AUBURN, Ala. – A busy day on the pool deck was just what the Tigers needed, finishing up the Auburn Invitational and the First Chance meet with a mountain of momentum heading into SEC Championships.
WOMEN
The Auburn women were set up and ready to go on Saturday. Kyla Maloney and Hannah Mattson each dropped significant time in the 200 back to go 1-2 in the event. Maloney dialed up a person-best 1:55.99. Later in the First Chance meet, the duo went 1-2 once again.
Lexie Mulvihill made sure to capture another title in the 100 free, leading with a time of 49.48. Polina Nevmovenko was right behind in the second. However, it was Meghan Lee and Maggie Gholston who both dropped the most time of any Tiger with Lee swimming two seconds faster than her previous best.
It was all Auburn in the 200 breast. Brynn Curtis, Hannah Ownbey, Ainsley Jones, Valerie Tarazi and Colby Hurt secured first through fifth.
When it came to the 200 fly, Casey Cullen paced the field with a solid 1:58.72. Avery Bargeon dropped .14 seconds to touch the wall second while Abby Gibbons came up third.
Cullen returned to the blocks in the First Chance meet, dropping her time from the morning's 200 fly with a 1:58.61. This time it was Gibbons who took second in the afternoon with Morgan Gore securing third.
Lilly Byrne rounded out the morning session for the women in the mile. Her 16:39.07 was good enough for a season-best.
As morning kicked over to the afternoon, Colby Hurt swam a solid 500 free at 4:53.05.
Payton Marvin and Lilly Byrne each came up with strong efforts in the 200 free. Marvin took the heat with a 1:47.86 with Byrne right behind.
Polina Nevmovenko utilized the First Chance Meet as an opportunity to try her hand at the 100 back, touching in at 54.05.
Saturday proved to be a good day for Emma Steckiel. The junior popped a new season-best in the 100 free, touching the wall at 49.41.
Auburn went 1-2-3 in the 200 breast. Brynn Curtis led the charge, while Micaela Sierra and Cameron Dukat took second and third, respectively.
MEN
Equaling the effort of the women, Seth Maschmeier also went for a career-best in the 200 back to begin the day. The Suwannee, Georgia native put together a 1:43.65, almost two seconds faster than his previous best. Tate Cutler also dropped over two seconds and took fourth.
Kalle Makinen, Logan Tirheimer and Aidan Stoffle all went 43.50 or better in the 100 free. However, it was Ryan Husband who dropped .14 seconds to swim his best time of the season in the event.
In the 200 fly, Evan McInerny conjured up a personal best of 1:43.98. Meanwhile, Rusty Jerger's 1:45.69 was his best time this season.
McInerny's mojo was far from extinguished, dropping even more time in the First Chance Meet. Evan hit the wall at 1:43.12, with Rusty Jerger in second and Tate Cutler in third.
After swimming the mile in the morning, Drew Jordan had just over 30 minutes to recover for the 500. Jordan managed an impressive 4:27.89.
Mihalis Deliyiannis continues to stay under 20 seconds in his 50 free. The Louisville transfer grabbed a 19.97 to earn the win on Saturday.
Lewis Treggiden won the 100 free, dropping over half a second with a 43.72 and teammate Jon Vanzandt nearly equaled the effort with a 43.80. However, it was Grady Wheeler who brought the house down with his final race on the Plains as a Tiger, carried off the deck by his teammates.
UP NEXT
Auburn turns its attention to the postseason with the SEC Championships on the horizon in College Station, Texas Feb. 14-18.
