Feb. 20, 2016
The Auburn men's swimming and diving team has kept up the pressure on front-runner Florida with another good morning of swims. Auburn, which trails Florida by 30 points, will bring back a total of 11 swims tonight, five in the Championship Finals, while Florida will have nine, two in Championship Finals.
In the women's race Auburn will attempt to overcome an eight-point deficit to Missouri to finish fourth at the Championships. Auburn will bring back eight swimmers for the final session, three in Championship Finals, three in B Finals and two in C Finals.
Joe Patching will attempt to win his second individual title when the 200 backstroke is contested after tying for the top seed (1:40.89). Auburn's last 200 backstroke title came in 2013 (Kyle Owens). Taylor Copeland (1:44.81) will swim in the C Final.
The 100 free finals will be chock full of Auburn swimmers, including three in the Championship Final. Peter Holoda is seeded second after clocking the seventh-best time in school history at 42.23. Arthur Mendes (42.89) is seeded fifth and Kyle Darmody (43.05) is seeded seventh. Swimming in the B Final will be Zach Apple, who swam a personal-best 43.39. Ziv Kalontarov (44.13) and Jacob Molacke (44.17) will swim the C Final.
Michael Duderstadt has a chance to become the first Auburn swimmer to sweep the breaststroke events since Mark Gangloff in 2004 when he goes for gold tonight. He swam a 1:55.31 in the prelims of the 200 this morning and will be seeded fourth. Tommy Brewer (1:57.12) will swim in the B Final and Jordan Jones (1:58.96) in the C Final.
All four women that swam the 200 backstroke prelims will return for the night session. Carolina Baddock qualified seventh for the Championship Final in 1:53.90, Sarah Reynolds (1:54.43) and Jillian Vitarius (1:55.38) are in the B Final and Erin Falconer is the C Final after recording a personal best 1:56.59.
In the 100 free, Aly Tetzloff (49.19) will swim in the B Final and Allyx Pucell (49.56) will swim in the C Final.
In the 200 breaststroke, Annie Lazor (2:09.76) and Natasha Lloyd (2:10.17) will both swim in the Championship Final, the first time Auburn will have multiple swimmers in the A Final since 2007 when it had four.
The SEC Championships are being broadcast live on SEC Network+. A one-hour wrap-up show will air on ESPNU on March 2 at 3 p.m. (men's) and 4:30 p.m. (women's).
AUBURN PRELIMS FINISHES
Women's 200 Backstroke
7. Caroline Baddock -- 1:53.90
11. Sarah Reynolds -- 1:54.43
15. Jillian Vitarius -- 1:55.38
20. Erin Falconer -- 1:56.59
Men's 200 Backstroke
T1. Joe Patching -- 1:40.89
19. Taylor Copeland -- 1:44.81
27. Joshua Booth -- 1:46.15
34. Sam Stewart -- 1:47.87
Women's 100 Freestyle
14. Aly Tetzloff -- 49.19
18. Allyx Purcell -- 49.56
27. Ashton Ellzey -- 50.05
30. McKenna DeBever -- 50.21
35. Maddie Martin -- 50.48
40. Shannon McKernan -- 50.84
46. Jessica Hodgson -- 51.02
47. Alex Merritt -- 51.05
Men's 100 Freestyle
2. Peter Holoda -- 42.23
5. Arthur Mendes -- 42.89
7. Kyle Darmody -- 43.05
10. Zach Apple -- 43.49
21. Ziv Kalontarov -- 44.13
23. Jacob Molacek -- 44.17
28. Liam McCloskey -- 44.38
Women's 200 Breaststroke
6. Annie Lazor -- 2:09.76
7. Natasha Lloyd -- 2:10.17
34. Beatriz Travalon -- 2:20.03
Men's 200 Breaststroke
4. Michael Duderstadt -- 1:55.31
11. Tommy Brewer -- 1:57.12
19. Jordan Jones -- 1:58.96