DALLAS, Texas – One relay win combined with two individual victories powered the Auburn men’s and women’s swim and dive teams to strong starts on Friday at the SMU Classic. With one day of racing and diving remaining, the women sit third out of six teams with 145 points while the men are fourth of six with 135.
It didn’t take long for the Orange and Blue to make waves inside the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center.
Out of the gates, Lora Komoroczy, Anastasia Makarova, Abby Gibbons and Polina Nevmovenko combined for a 3:33.41 to take the top spot in the 400 medley relay.
On the men’s side, it was Nate Stoffle, Henry Bethel, Sohib Khaled and Kalle Makinen who took fourth with a 3:09.43.
Polina Nevmovenko kept the positive momentum going in the 200 free, securing sixth with a 1:48.78. Moments later, Mason Mathias delivered a solid 1:36.33 in the same race to hit the wall fourth.
Mulvihill madness made an early appearance in 2024. Senior Lexie Mulvihill clocked a 22.31 in the 50 free to take second. Mulvihill’s effort was only slightly outdone seconds later when junior Kalle Makinen smoked everyone with a sturdy 19.46 to grab his first win of the season.
Over in the diving well, both Kyleigh Kidd and Ethan Swart impressed in their first appearance of the season. Kidd locked in for third place on the 3-meter with a 292.05, hitting an early zones cut. Swart also hit his 1-meter cut with a 315.40, taking third overall as well.
After the break, Gibbons emerged fourth in the 100 fly with a 52.94. Khaled equaled Gibbons’ performance for another fourth-place finish, clocking a 47.27.
Komoroczy dazzled once again in the A final of the 100 back, sliding into second with a 52.78. Ellie Waldrep, an integral part of Auburn’s backstroke unit, took the top spot in the B final with a 52.26.
Nate Stoffle turned in a solid 46.17 in the men’s 100 back to take second place in the A final.
Finding momentum late in last season, Anastasia Makarova picked up where she left on Friday evening in the 100 breast. Her 1:00.58 was enough to get her first win over the season. Audrey Crawford slid into second in the B final with a 1:02.78.
It was a 54.71 for Henry Bethel in the men’s 100 breast, taking fifth overall.
Rounding out the evening with the 800 free relay, Nevmovenko, Julia Strojnowska, Crawford and Mulvihill combined for a 7:19.72 and fifth place. Meanwhile, Jon Vanzandt, Mathias, Danny Schmidt and Jacques Rathle put together a 6:27.36 for fourth.
SCORES
Men
Indiana – 175
Louisville – 158
Virginia Tech – 146
Auburn – 135
SMU – 112
Texas A&M – 111
Women
Louisville – 166
Texas A&M – 149
Auburn – 145
Miami (FL) – 143
Virginia Tech – 126
SMU – 108
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Saturday, Oct. 12 – 11 a.m. CT
200 Medley Relay
500 Free
200 Breast
200 Back
Men’s 3-meter diving
Women’s 1-meter diving
100 Free
200 IM
200 Free Relay