AUBURN, Ala. – The stage is set for Auburn to have another big night Tuesday. In prelims, the Tigers had 17 swimmers and two divers qualify for finals at the SEC Championship.
Sophomore Emily Hetzer set the tone early swimming the fastest time (4:38.56) of anybody in the prelims for the women's 500 freestyle. It was a new lifetime best and the third-fastest time in school history. She will compete in the A-Final on Tuesday night.
Auburn will have a trio of swimmers in the A-Final for the women's 50 freestyle with Julie Meynen (21.68), Claire Fisch (21.71) and AJ Kutsch (22.09) all finishing in the top eight.
Senior Santiago Grassi paced the men's team with a season-best 19.27 in the 50 freestyle that placed second overall in prelims. Grassi will look to make podium in Tuesday's final.
The Tigers also had two of their three men's divers qualify for the 1-meter final with sophomore Conner Pruitt (334.50) placing sixth in prelims and junior Logan Andrews (310.65) finishing eighth.
Here's a full list of those who qualified for finals.
Women's 500 Free
1. Emily Hetzer, 4:38.56
11. Averee Preble, 4:43.53
15. Sonnele Oeztuerk, 4:44.94
Men's 500 Free
12. Christian Sztolcman, 4:18.83
13. Aryan Makhija, 4:18.84
20. Davis Edwards, 4:20.87
Women's 200 IM
24. Claudia Thamm, 1:59.44
Men's 200 IM
23. Brogan Davis, 1:46.16
Women's 50 Free
3. Julie Meynen, 21.68
4. Claire Fisch, 21.71
6. AJ Kutsch, 22.09
10. Robyn Clevenger, 22.20
20. Camille Porter, 22.53
Men's 50 Free
2. Santiago Grassi, 19.27
13. Matthew Yish, 19.60
14. Nik Eberly, 19.61
20. Jack Armstrong, 19.71
Men's 1-Meter Diving
6. Conner Pruitt, 334.50
8. Logan Andrews, 310.65