Feb. 18, 2017
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Michael Duderstadt and Joe Patching will each attempt to defend an individual SEC Championship title on Saturday night as they were two of the six Auburn swimmers to advance to a championship final on Saturday morning at the 2017 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships.
Patching, the defending SEC Champion in the 200 back, will have a chance to defend his title after finishing third in the prelims in 1:41.04. He will be joined in the finals by Petter Fredriksson, who swam a 1:41.99 and will be seeded fifth. Patching is attempting to become the fifth Auburn swimmer to win a pair of SEC 200 back titles, joining Kyle Owens (2012, 2013), Bryce Hunt (2003, 2004), Mike Andrews (1995, 1996), and Rich Hughey (1982, 1985) while both will be chasing Auburn's 13th overall title in the event.
Taylor Copeland (1:44.34) and Joshua Booth (1:44.37) both set personal-bests and will swim in the 200 back C Final.
Duderstadt will attempt to sweep the breaststroke events for a second straight season after qualifying fifth for the 200 breaststroke in 1:55.16. Scott Spann (1977, 1978) is the only other Auburn breaststroker to sweep the events multiple times at the conference meet.
Tommy Brewer's personal-best 1:56.41 placed him in the 200 breaststroke B Final.
Julie Meynen, who was undefeated in the 100 free in dual meets this season, is seeded sixth for the championship final after touching in 48.51. Aly Tetzloff (49.22) and Allyx Purcell (49.27) are each in the B Final while Ashton Ellzey's career-best 49.45 placed her in the C Final.
Peter Holoda (42.45) and Zach Apple (42.96) will be seeded fourth and seventh, respectively, in the championship final of the men's 100 free while Kyle Darmody (43.64) will be in the B Final and Ziv Kalontarov (43.76) in the C Final. Auburn's last 100 free title was won by Marcelo Chierighini in 2014, which was the last of 11 straight Auburn titles in the event.
Erin Falconer's 1:55.60 in the 200 back was a personal-best and put her in the B Final.
Natasha Lloyd swam a 2:11.45 and will be swimming the B Final of the 200 breast.
Saturday's finals session will include the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, men's platform and 400 freestyle relay finals.
Saturday Auburn Prelims Finishes
Women's 200 Back
12. Erin Falconer 1:55.60 (PR)
24. Caroline Baddock 1:57.69
44. Shannon McKernan 2:01.96
Men's 200 Back
3. Joe Patching 1:41.04
5. Petter Fredriksson 1:41.99 (PR)
20. Taylor Copeland 1:44.34 (PR)
21. Joshua Booth 1:44.37 (PR)
Women's 100 Free
6. Julie Meynen 48.51
t11. Aly Tetzloff 49.22
13. Allyx Purcell 49.27
19. Ashton Ellzey 49.45 (PR)
29. Robyn Clevenger 50.25
33. Jessica Merritt 50.35 (PR)
39. Haley Black 50.87 (PR)
54. Jacqueline Hippi 51.52
55. Maddie Martin 51.59
Men's 100 Free
4. Peter Holoda 42.45
7. Zach Apple 42.96 (PR)
13. Kyle Darmody 43.64
17. Ziv Kalontarov 43.76
39. Colin Bone 44.78
Women's 200 Breast
12. Natasha Lloyd 2:11.45
36. Breanna Roman 2:17.27
41. Brooke Malone 2:17.86
44. Kristen Murslack 2:20.57
Men's 200 Breast
5. Michael Duderstadt 1:55.16
12. Tommy Brewer 1:56.41 (PR)