BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After dialing up his best meet as an Auburn Tiger at the NC State Invite, Ivan Tarasov has been named SEC Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
Tarasov, a backstroke specialist from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski, Russia was in rare form at the Greensboro Aquatic Center over the weekend. Tarasov dropped time in nearly every race he swam in, finding personal bests in both the 100 and 200 back.
A 45.33 gave him a then-career low in the 100 back and earned the rookie a victory in a stacked field that included three other top-25 teams. With his help in the leadoff leg of the 200 medley relay, the Tigers would also claim victory in the event, outracing host No. 10 NC State.
Leading off the 400 medley relay, Tarasov dialed up a 45.27, jumping him to No. 4 on Auburn’s all-time performers list.
He would also finish second overall in the 200 back with a personal-best 1:41.55. Tarasov now owns NCAA qualifying standards in both backstroke events.
Tuesday marks the fourth weekly award for an Auburn athlete this season. Elizaveta Klevanovich, Maston Ballew and Emily Hallifax earned Swimmer, Freshman and Diver of the Week, respectively, following THE Dual Meet Tournament on Oct. 21.