Feb. 17, 2017
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Bailey Nero and Natasha Lloyd will each compete for a women's individual title while Hugo Morris and Michael Duderstadt will each try to defend their individual title following Friday morning's prelims session at the 2017 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tenn.
The defending SEC Champion, Hugo Morris will be swimming in lane 8 after clocking a 1:43.82 this morning in the men's 200 fly. He is looking to join Jeff Somensatto (1998, '99, '01), Rod Bowman (1986, '87, '88) and Bill Forrester (1977, '78) as a multiple SEC Champion for Auburn in the event.
Michael Duderstadt, who swept the breaststroke events at the 2016 SEC Championships, is seeded fourth after going 52.46. Last season he was seeded second going into finals after going 52.43 in prelims, winning the title with a 51.94.
Nero is seeded fifth in the women's 200 butterfly after clocking a 1:56.96 this morning. Last year she placed 14th in the same event and she will be chasing Auburn's first title in the event since Emily Kukors in 2008.
Natasha Lloyd qualified sixth in the women's 100 breaststroke event with a time of 1:00.30. The seventh-place finisher last year, she has scored points at each of the previous three conference championships in the event and is looking for Auburn's first title in the event since Micah Lawrence in 2010.
Luis Martinez will swim in the B Final of the 200 fly after clocking a personal-best 1:44.49 this morning while Foster Ballard, who also hit a personal-best in 1:45.30, and Liam McCloskey (1:45.41) will each swim in the C Final.
Aly Tetzloff shaved off .49 seconds from her personal best in swimming a 53.80 to qualify 18th for the 100 back C Final.
Kyle Darmody will lead four Auburn swimmers in the 100 back after qualifying 10th in 46.74. The C Final will have Petter Fredriksson (47.43), Joshua Booth (47.45) and Taylor Copeland (47.82) competing in it.
Breanna Roman, who clocked a personal-best 1:00.95, will be in the B Final of the 100 breast and Brooke Malone in the C Final after going 1:02.22.
Friday's finals session begins at 5 p.m. CT and will also include the women's platform and 400 medley relay.
Thursday Auburn Prelims Finishes
Women's 200 Fly
5. Bailey Nero 1:56.96
32. Haley Black 2:01.62
36. Maddie Martin 2:02.63
Men's 200 Fly
8. Hugo Morris 1:43.82
11. Luis Martinez 1:44.49 (PR)
20. Foster Ballard 1:45.30 (PR)
23. Liam McCloskey 1:45.41
28. Santiago Grassi 1:46.58 (PR)
38. Bryan Lee 1:52.38
Women's 100 Back
18. Aly Tetzloff 53.80 (PR)
27. Caroline Baddock 54.53
36. Shannon McKernan 55.40
41. Robyn Clevenger 56.28 (PR)
Men's 100 Back
10. Kyle Darmody 46.74
18. Petter Fredriksson 47.43 (PR)
19. Joshua Booth 47.45
21. Taylor Copeland 47.82
Women's 100 Breast
6. Natasha Lloyd 1:00.30
11. Breanna Roman 1:00.95 (PR)
19. Brooke Malone 1:02.22
28. Kristen Murslack 1:03.16
Men's 100 Breast
4. Michael Duderstadt 52.46
26. Tommy Brewer 54.77