Tigers to go hunting for titles at SECs on Friday night

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Feb. 16, 2018

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Hugo Gonzalez and Liam McCloskey each locked up the top seed and Zach Apple and Haley Black the second seed in their respective events as the Auburn swimming and diving teams had a successful session on Friday morning, qualifying a total of 12 swimmers for nighttime swims.

Gonzalez will vie for his first SEC title out of lane 4 in the 400 IM finals. The freshman blasted a 3:40.31 during prelims, which is the second-fastest performance in school history, trailing only his school record 3:39.28 set in December. He placed second in Thursday's 200 IM, establishing the school record in the process.

McCloskey is the top seed in the men's 100 fly finals after busting a 45.75 time in prelims, which makes him the seventh-fastest performer with the 10th-fastest performance in school history. He will be joined by Luis Martinez (46.05) and Santiago Grassi (46.23), who are seeded fifth and seventh after prelims. Foster Ballard is the top seed in the C Final after a 47.20 this morning.

The women's 100 fly A Final will be loaded with Tigers as three women went top-8 this morning. Black crushed her own school record in qualifying second, touching in 50.99 . Aly Tetzloff's 51.41 seeds her third tonight with the third-fastest performance in school history while Bailey Nero also posted a personal best 52.27 to place herself eighth after prelims. Robyn Clevenger will swim the C Final after her 53.84 personal best this morning.

Apple cruised to a 1:33.21 to earn his place in lane 5 in tonight's 200 free finals. His time this morning is second in school history only to his 1:32.92 from Wednesday's 800 free relay leadoff leg. Peter Holoda posted a personal-best 1:34.79 to make his way into the B Final and he is now the 10th-fastest performer in school history.

Erin Falconer advanced to the A Final of the women's 200 free after posting a 1:45.53, fifth-fastest of the morning.

Carly Cummings' career-best 4:14.96 in the 400 IM placed her in the C Final.

Finals begin at 6 p.m. and will also include women's 3-meter diving

Livestats are available each session through 12thman.com and each session will air on SECN+.

SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS -- FRIDAY, FEB. 16
AUBURN RESULTS (PRELIMS/FINALS)

WOMEN'S 400 IM
24. Carly Cummings - 4:14.96 (PR)
27. Zoe Thatcher -- 4:16.54
35. Jaden Bellina -- 4:21.23

MEN'S 400 IM
1. Hugo Gonzalez -- 3:40.31
31. Russell Noletto -- 3:50.81

WOMEN'S 100 BUTTERFLY
2. Haley Black -- 50.99 SCHOOL RECORD
3. Aly Tetzloff -- 51.41 (PR)
8. Bailey Nero -- 52.27 (PR)
22. Robyn Clevenger -- 53.84 (PR)
27. Jewels Harris -- 54.17
29. Ashton Ellzey -- 54.54
46. Sarah Margaret Cimino -- 56.46

MEN'S 100 BUTTERFLY
1. Liam McCloskey -- 45.75 (PR)
5. Luis Martinez -- 46.05
7. Santiago Grassi -- 46.23
17. Foster Ballard -- 47.20
31. David Crossland -- 47.99
T37. Christian Ginieczki -- 48.49 (PR)
DQ. William McKinney

WOMEN'S 200 FREESTYLE
5. Erin Falconer -- 1:45.53
25. Julie Meynen -- 1:48.10
29. Jessica Merritt -- 1:48.34

MEN'S 200 FREESTYLE
2. Zach Apple -- 1:33.21
11. Peter Holoda -- 1:34.79 (PR)
34. Owen Upchurch -- 1:38.13
35. Josh Dannhauser -- 1:38.14 (PR)
40. Grant Schenk -- 1:38.96
45. Brody Heck -- 1:40.23