ATHENS, Ga. – Three Auburn swimmers moved up the top 10 performers list and Whit Andrus secured a spot in finals in the men’s 1-meter as the Tigers delivered another strong showing on day four of the 2025 SEC Championships inside Gabrielsen Natatorium.
Two days of swimming and diving remain and the men sit seventh with 308 points while the women are ninth with 242.5 points.
Thursday morning began with one of head coach Ryan Wochomurka’s talented freshmen in Audrey Crawford. The Indiana native dialed up a 4:13.22 in the 400 IM to put herself into the evening’s B final.
Crawford returned to the blocks in the evening, dropping almost a full second off her time with a 4:12.36 to finish 14th overall.
To no one’s surprise, Danny Schmidt captained the Orange and Blue’s effort in the men’s 400 IM. His 3:41.45 was nearly four seconds below his season-best and was good enough to qualify 10th overall. Jacques Rathle also earned a second swim in the C final after a 3:46.20.
Schmidt’s incredible week in Athens continued in the night session as the German dropped a 3:40.29 to secure 10th place overall. The time lowered his personal best and is the third-fastest in program history. Rathle finished 21st at 3:44.79.
Sophomore Morgan Carteaux generated the largest waves of the morning session in the 100 fly. Her 51.71 was the fifth-fastest time in prelims and jumped Carteaux to No. 6 all-time at Auburn. Lora Komoroczy’s 52.27 snagged a spot in the B final for the Hungarian.
Carteaux and Komoroczy traded top times in finals. Komoroczy swam a 51.65 to overtake Carteaux in the No. 6 spot all-time and finish 11th. Moments later, Carteaux dialed up a 51.64 to retake her spot amongst Auburn’s elite flyers.
Georgia native Nate Stoffle led the charge in the men’s 100 fly. With a 45.96, Stoffle secured 11th in qualifying for a spot in the B final. Logan Tirheimer (46.49), Bradford Johnson (46.55) and Sohib Khaled (46.78) all earned places in the C final.
Stoffle dropped a lifetime-best 45.85 to put up an 11th-place finish in the event. Freshman Bradford Johnson did well to win the C final with a 45.91. Tirheimer (46.10) and Khaled (46.21) followed in behind at 19th and 20th, respectively.
In the women’s 200 free, senior Polina Nevmovenko was the only Tiger to snag a second swim, qualifying 20th at 1:46.12. The Russian international delivered a season-best 1:45.05 to win the C final.
Ryan Husband’s 1:32.98 was the seventh fastest performance in Auburn history in the 200 free and good enough to compete in the B final. Meanwhile, Michael Bonson grabbed the last spot in the C final with a 1:34.99.
In finals, Husband’s 1:33.42 was good enough for 15th place. Bonson would record a 1:35.05 for 23rd.
The men had their best day in the diving well by far on Thursday. Paced by senior Whit Andrus, three different Tigers put points on the board for John Fox’s group. Andrus became the first Auburn diving to make an A final during the championships, dialing up a massive 349.70 in the 1-meter.
Talan Blackmon secured a spot in the consolation finals after a 312.45. Moments later, Blackmon pieced together a 298.10 to lock up 16th place. Not to be forgotten, Travis Keith snagged 21st after a 290.55.
Rounding out the night in finals, Andrus dialed up a 340.10 to finish seventh.
Friday’s action includes the women’s tower, 200 fly, 100 back, 100 breast and the 400 medley relay.
The remaining schedule of events is below:
Friday, Feb. 21 (200 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, Women’s Platform, 400 MR)
8:30 a.m. CT – Prelims
11:30 a.m. CT – Diving Prelims
12:40 p.m. CT – Diving Consolation Finals
4:30 p.m. CT – Finals
Saturday, Feb. 22 (200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 1650 free, Men’s Platform, 400 FR)
8:30 a.m. CT – Prelims
11:30 a.m. CT – Diving Prelims
12:40 p.m. CT – Diving Consolation Finals
2:30 p.m. CT – 1650 heats
4 p.m. CT – Finals