AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn Invitational couldn't have started any better for Camille Porter. The Auburn senior won the women's 50 freestyle event Friday night and finished in 22.33, breaking the lifetime-best time she set earlier in the day (22.38) at prelims.
"I thought we had a solid day of swimming," Auburn head coach Gary Taylor said. "Numerous season-bests by the group, certainly highlighted by Camille Porter's performance not only in prelims but in finals. Camille swam a time that would score at the SEC level and absolutely performed at a level that's on the cusp of an NCAA qualifying performance."
Following her performance in prelims, Porter was a late addition to Auburn's SEC roster.
The rest of the team's SEC roster sat out Friday, leaving a smaller contingent of Auburn swimmers to compete. Other highlights for the Tigers included a 1-2 finish from freshman Hannah Mattson and senior Jaqueline Hippi in the women's 200 IM finals. Both Mattson (2:02.46) and Hippi (2:03.28) swam season bests in the event.
Fellow senior Sierra Jett also swam a season-best 23.04 to finish third in the women's 50 free.
The three-day invitational will continue Saturday from Auburn with seven events apiece for the men's and women's teams. They are in order: 200 medley relay, 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 800 free relay.
Other teams in the field include Alabama, Emory, Florida, Florida State, LSU and Vanderbilt.
"I'm excited as we head into the weekend," Taylor said. "I think Saturday and Sunday are better days for us, and we're already off to a great start."