ATHENS, Ga. – Erin Falconer came to the 2019 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships prepared to swim, and swim fast. The senior had a huge night for Auburn leading off both of the team's relays, the first of which set a school record while the second placed her amongst the fastest in school history.
"It was an exceptional night for our women," Auburn head coach Gary Taylor said. "We come out in the medley relay and break a school record. That set the tone for the rest of the session."
Falconer, from Mundelein, Ill., was the first off the blocks on the school record-setting 200 medley relay, which broke the school record by .38 seconds, and then swam the third-fastest 200 free in school history to lead off the 800 free relay, both of which finished fourth.
The women also received a top-eight finish out of junior diver Alison Maillard on the 3-meter on the first day of the five-day meet.
Following one day of competition, the Auburn women stand in fifth with 126 points, with Florida leading the way with 165 points.
Auburn's men sit in seventh place with 121 points off of a sixth-place 200 medley relay finish and an eighth-place 800 free relay finish as well as a pair of top-14 finishes from divers Conner Pruitt and Logan Andrews.
WOMEN'S 200 MEDLEY RELAY
The women's meet got off to an electric start as Falconer (24.30), Carly Cummings (27.55), Aly Tetzloff (22.78) and Claire Fisch (21.10) set the school record in the 200 medley relay with a 1:35.73 to finish fourth. Falconer and Cummings both had the fourth-fastest splits for their legs while Tetzloff and Fisch were both third-fastest in the field.
"I think it's pretty cool to be the first person to swim on a relay and that medley relay was really hype," Falconer said. "All the teams were going super fast so it was hard to tell where we were at but it was a lot of fun racing with those girls and seeing all of our hard work pay off."
The previous record of 1:36.11 was held by Emily Bos, Lauren Norberg, Olivia Scott and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, set at the 2012 NCAA Championships.
WOMEN'S 3-METER
Maillard returned for finals on the 3-meter for the second time in her career, finishing eighth with a 282.25. The Houston, Texas, native advanced to finals after a 331.05 in prelims qualified her fourth.
"Alison did great in prelims," Auburn diving coach Jeff Shaffer said. "She missed one dive, a reverse two-and-a-half, and then in the finals it just wasn't there for some reason. Usually we try and dive consistent enough in prelims to be in finals and then ramp it up in finals to really push the limits and she was unable to do that. But I'm proud of her prelims and the experience, as disappointing as it was, will give her the knowledge to handle that situation a little bit better."
Maillard had previously finished eighth as a freshman (310.95) and 10th last year as a sophomore (309.60). Over the course of three conference championships, she has now competed in finals five times, also doing it on the platform twice and on the 1-meter last season.
WOMEN'S 800 FREE RELAY
Falconer swam the third-fastest 200 freestyle in Auburn history to leadoff the fourth-place finishing 800 free relay. Falconer split a 1:43.42, placing her only behind Ava Ohlgren (1:42.99) and Caitlin Geary (1:43.17) in school history.
"That relay was by far one of the most exciting 800 free relays I've ever had at Auburn," Falconer said. "It was cool to see us be on a relay where all of us absolutely hit it."
Bailey Nero followed Falconer with a 1:44.24 split as Auburn was third halfway through the race. Sonnele Oeztuerk split a 1:45.21 to move the team up to second before Jessica Merritt anchored in 1:44.13.
"Bailey came back with a great performance in an event that isn't necessarily her primary race," Taylor said. "Sonnele was outstanding as well and then Jess Merritt swam really tough and finished really well."
MEN'S 200 MEDLEY RELAY
David Crossland (21.61), Tommy Brewer 23.66), Liam McCloskey (20.29) and Santiago Grassi (18.79) finished sixth with a 1:24.35 in the 200 medley relay. The quartet sat in seventh across the first three legs off the race before Grassi's anchor leg moved them ahead of South Carolina at the wall.
"We had a lifetime best leadoff split from David Crossland and the other three were lifetime best split or right at it," Taylor said. "There is definitely opportunities for that relay to be even better. Tonight was almost three seconds under what they did in-season (1:27.08)."
The 1:24.35 is a NCAA Automatic Qualifying Time, the first for the men's team this season.
MEN'S 1-METER
Pruitt and Andrews both scored points on the 1-meter, with Pruitt finishing 11th with a 311.70 and Andrews a 14th with a 302.95. For Andrews it was an improvement of six places from his freshman year when he finished 20th (278.10).
"I thought we got off to a solid start," Shaffer said. "Both Conner and Logan were fairly consistent. Conner is giving up some degree of difficulty on the field, though his best two dives were his two last dives that pulled him up. When you are only 12 points out of the top eight it's a little disappointing to know you were so close. On the bright side it was a great experience for him and Logan."
MEN'S 800 FREE RELAY
Christian Sztolcman led off the 800 free relay with a collegiate-best 1:35.17, lowering his time by over two-and-a-half seconds from 1:37.79. He was followed by Owen Upchurch (1:35.61), Brogan Davis (1"36.37) and Russell Noletto (1:35.92) as the four finished eighth in 6:23.07.
"I wouldn't say that that was our strongest relay but those guys swim with a ton of heart," Taylor said. "I couldn't be more proud of the effort and that's what we've seen all year long."
TIME TRIALS
During the time trials on Tuesday morning, senior Foster Ballard clocked a 1:42.76 in the 200 fly, a career-best time that moved him up from the eighth-fastest performer in Auburn history to the sixth-fastest. His time was also the 16th-fastest performance in school history.
ADDITIONAL QUOTES
Gary Taylor
On what he has seen out of the women's team after the first day…
"Our women aren't scared to compete. They got up and did what they have done all year. They stayed within their mindset, they swam their race and they focused on their process and what they were doing rather than the atmosphere and other lanes. They have set themselves up for a fantastic week. We showed some speed, some sprint prowess, we showed some middle distance endurance and these women showed they can really go at some of the very best programs in the country."
On the men's team on the first day…
"I'd be lying if I said I don't want to come out here and try to win. With that being said, what more can we ask from the men?
"Regardless of what else is going on they are focused on what they are supposed to do and we performed at a high level tonight. There are definitely opportunities to get even better as we move into this meet."
Erin Falconer
On what she has seen out of the team after the first day…
"With 'The New Plains' we have a whole new energy. Coming in here Gary (Taylor) talked about how we should have a chip on our shoulder because no one is talking about us. We don't have much pressure but that gives us a chip on our shoulder to get people talking about Auburn. Tonight we got some people looking and I think that's just the beginning for the rest of the week. We are ready to light it up."
-- War Eagle –