TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Strong efforts from Auburn relays and diving had the Tigers within arm’s reach of Alabama until the final race on Friday afternoon inside the Alabama Aquatic Center and Don Gambril Olympic Pool. However, Auburn would fall in both duals, 151-149 on the men’s side and 180.5-119.5 on the women’s.
Relays put Auburn in a solid spot to kick off the afternoon off. A 1:35.69 from Lora Komoroczy, Kiia Metsakonkola, Izzy Iwasyk and Elizaveta Klevanovich was good enough for second place for the women. Meanwhile, Ivan Tarasov, Uros Zivanovic, Sohib Khaled and Kalle Makinen combined for a 1:23.33 and the first win on the afternoon for head coach Ryan Wochomurka and the Tigers.
Sophomore Julia Strojnowska dialed up a lifetime best to jumpstart the women’s side in the 1000 free. Her 9:47.65 was good enough for second place on the afternoon and solidified her spot as the ninth-best performer in program history.
Perhaps no one had a better meet on the women’s side than Maggie McGuire. Her 1:45.55 1:45.55 in the 200 free was another personal best and led a 1-2-3 finish for the Orange and Blue with Bella Ekk and Wyllo Hanson.
McGuire would go on to lead the charge in the 200 back, finishing second with a season-best 1:54.33.
Feeling the momentum from Auburn’s first sweep of the day. Daniel Krichevsky (1:33.29), Warner Russ (1:34.89) and Danny Schmidt (1:35.27) brought the brooms out on the men’s side to turn the tide.
In the 100 back, it was Komoroczy and Kyla Maloney finding a groove. A 52.14 from Komoroczy and 52.83 from Maloney signified an important 2-3 finish.
Tarasov dialed up a similarly strong 46.49 to lock in second place on the men’s side.
Annika Finzen, Zoey Zeller and Olivia Dinehart all delivered strong efforts in the 100 breast. However, it was only good enough for a 3-4-5 finish.
Jumping back into the win column for vital points in a close dual, Uros Zivanovic’s 53.26 just edged out Steijn Louter from Alabama.
Freshman Abdalla Nasr made it two in a row for the Orange and Blue, hitting the wall at 1:43.31 in the 200 fly.
Sprinters Elizaveta Klevanovich and Kalle Makinen each found the podium in their respective events. Klevanovich hit the wall third in the 50 free (22.16) and second in the 100 free (48.80). Makinen grabbed second in the 50 (19.38). It was Krichevsky, though, who powered home a win in the 100 at 42.57.
John Fox’s diving crew had themselves a stellar afternoon, winning three of the four events.
Maria Faoro (315.90), Juliette Landi (312.90) and Chloe Brothers (307.73) swept the 3-meter portion. Moments later, Emily Hallifax secured a second-place finish on the 1-meter with a 285.15.
For the men, Ethan Swart (366.15) and Talan Blackmon (348.15) tag-teamed a 1-2 finish on the 1-meter. In the second diving session, Ben Wilson dialed up a 383.63 to earn the win on 3-meter.
Back on the blocks, Zoe Zeller continued her strong showing in Tuscaloosa. A 2:10.60 was dominant in the 200 breast, finishing ahead of teammate Hanna Schmidt. Zeller would go on to finish second in the 200 IM with a 2:00.36.
Freshman Maston Ballew carried the torch on the men’s side with a 1:55.71 and a second-place finish.
Sammie Hamilton jumped to the podium in the women’s 500 free. A 4:45.32 was a season-best and good enough for second on the afternoon.
As the women’s dual fell toward Alabama, Morgan Carteaux still managed third in the 100 at 52.68.
Bradford Johnson and the men, however, we deep in the thick of battle. His 46.09 proved important as Sohib Khaled finished right behind him.
Putting the Tigers in position to steal the dual, Danny Schmidt’s win in the 200 IM at 1:46.44 and Maston Ballew’s second-place finish with a 1:46.47 had the Orange and Blue fans on their feet.
It all came down to the final 400 free relay. Even though Makinen, Krichevsky, Bedsole and Russ delivered an electric win with a 2:49.65, Alabama’s 2-3 finish in the event proved to be the difference as the Tigers fell in both duals.