AUBURN, Ala. – A handful of Tigers found new personal and season-best times on Friday as head coach Ryan Wochomurka looks to secure even more Orange and Blue in this month's NCAA Championships.
Sophomore Collin Klingman was the first to take advantage of the extra swimming on the Plains. The Thibodaux, Louisiana product unleashed a personal-best 1:47.84 in the 200 IM.
Similarly, freshman Avery Henke delivered a 55.41 in the 100 breast, his best time since arriving on the plains.
It was Elizaveta Klevanovich and Sohib Khaled, however, who made the largest waves of the day. Klevanovich powered a 100 free time of 48.37, becoming the ninth-fastest performer in the event and jumping up the NCAA standings.
Khaled, on the other hand, dropped a 45.30 in the 100 fly, leapfrogging Santiago Grassis for fifth all-time and rocketing up the national rankings.
In the evening session, both Kalle Makinen and Polina Nevmovenko left their mark. Makinen found a 19.18 in the 50 free to earn a new career best. Nevmovenko did the same in the 100 free, jumping to No. 7 on the all-time performers list with a 48.15.
Emma Steckiel also delivered a new career best in the 50 free, hitting the wall at 22.32.
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 2 | Prelims – 10 a.m. CT, Finals 3 p.m. CT
200 Medley Relay
400 IM
200 free
100 fly
200 breast
100 back
50 free
400 Free Relay
1650 free
UP NEXT
For John Fox's diving crew, the NCAA Zones Qualifier begins, March 10-13 in Athens, Ga. Wochomurka and Co. await the selections for the NCAA Championships. The women's championships are set for March 20-23 in Athens, Ga. Meanwhile, the men's championships are slated for March 27-30 in Indianapolis, Ind.