Feb. 15, 2017
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Auburn swimmers posted 16 personal best times and will hold five lanes in championship finals as swimming prelims in the 500 free, 200 IM and 50 free were contested on Wednesday morning at the SEC Championships in Knoxville, Tenn.
Ashley Neidigh will be swimming in lane 5 of the women's 500 free championship finals on Wednesday night after shaving over 6 seconds off her season best and 2 seconds off her career best to post a 4:41.36 during prelims. Her time makes her the fourth-fastest performer in Auburn history.
Joe Patching, the defending champion in the 200 IM, will be seeded third for tonight's championship final after clocking a 1:43.32. He will be attempting to become Auburn's first-ever repeat champion in the event. He will be joined in the pool by Michael Duderstadt, who is seeded seventh after touching in 1:44.80.
Peter Holoda and Zach Apple will each vie for a medal in the 50 free after the pair finished sixth (19.50) and seventh (19.59), respectively, in prelims. Kyle Darmody (19.63) will be the top seed in the consolation finals and will be joined by Ziv Kalontarov, who posted a personal-best 19.67. The C final will have three Auburn swimmers in it in Hugo Morris (19.83), Liam McCloskey (19.89) and Santiago Grassi (19.95), all of whom swam personal bests this morning.
Joining Neidigh in 500 free will be Zoe Thatcher (4:44.25) and Erin Falconer (4:45.81), who are seeded ninth and 14th, respectively, and will swim in the consolation final.
Bailey Nero swam a personal-best 1:58.77 in the 200 IM and will be the top seed in the C final. Her time was a .15 second improvement and kept her as the ninth-fastest performer in school history.
Tommy Brewer was one of four Auburn swimmers to post a personal best in the 200 IM prelims and he will swim in the consolation finals after placing 12th in 1:45.64. Petter Fredriksson swam a 1:46.24 and was in a three-way tie for 15th, necessitating a swim-off in which he swam a 1:45.71, placing him in the consolation final. Foster Ballard's personal best 1:46.45 placed him in the C final.
Four Auburn swimmers will swim in the consolation finals of the women's 50 free in Allyx Purcell (22.50), Ashton Ellzey (22.59), Julie Meynen (22.69) and Robyn Clevenger (22.74).
Wednesday night's finals session begins at 5 p.m. CT and will also include finals of the women' 1-meter and the 200 free relay.
Auburn Wednesday Prelims Finishes
Women's 500 Free
2. Ashley Neidigh 4:41.36 (PR)
9. Zoe Thatcher 4:44.25
14. Erin Falconer 4:45.81 (PR)
Men's 500 Free
26. Alec Morris 4:23.58
28. Russell Noletto 4:25.07 (PR)
41. Bryan Lee 4:27.72 (PR)
47. Colin Bone 4:34.41
Women's 200 IM
17. Bailey Nero 1:58.77 (PR)
31. Caroline Baddock 2:00.50
35. Jessica Merritt 2:01.30 (PR)
36. Natasha Lloyd 2:01.40
41. Jacqueline Hippi 2:02.40
44. Kristen Murslack 2:02.97
Men's 200 IM
3. Joe Patching 1:43.32
7. Michael Duderstadt 1:44.80
12. Tommy Brewer 1:45.64 (PR)
t-15. Petter Fredriksson 1:46.24 (PR) / 1:45.71 (PR)
19. Foster Ballard 1:46.45 (PR)
27. Luis Martinez 1:47.76 (PR)
Women's 50 Free
t-10. Allyx Purcell 22.50
12. Ashton Ellzey 22.59
14. Julie Meynen 22.69
t-15. Robyn Clevenger 22.74 (PR)
45. Shannon McKernan 23.61
47. Breanna Roman 23.66
54. Brooke Malone 23.84 (PR)
Men's 50 Free
6. Peter Holoda 19.50
T7. Zach Apple 19.59
9. Kyle Darmody 19.63
11. Ziv Kalontarov 19.67 (PR)
18. Hugo Morris 19.83 (PR)
20. Liam McCloskey 19.89 (PR)
22. Santiago Grassi 19.95 (PR)