KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A bronze medal in the men’s 800 free relay combined with a championship final appearance from Chloe Brothers in the 1-meter gave the Auburn fans inside the Allan Jones Aquatic Center plenty to cheer about on Tuesday.
With two days of competition complete, the men sit seventh with 146 points. Behind Brothers’ performance, the women moved up to fourth with 169 points.
Head coach Ryan Wochomurka’s crew has been particularly strong in the 200 medley relay this season. Tuesday evening was no different.
In the women’s event, Lora Komoroczy, Kiia Metsakonkola, Izzy Iwasyk and Elizaveta Klevanovich combined for a 1:35.07, good enough for fifth place overall and the third-fastest time in program history.
Moments later, Ivan Tarasov, Uros Zivanovic, Sohib Khaled and Kalle Makinen equaled the effort with a 1:22.41 and a fifth-place finish of their own. The time was also the second-quickest in Auburn history, just short of the 2009 NCAA Championship record of a 1:22.36.
Julia Strojnowska, Luke Waldrep and Mack Schumann kicked off the first session of swimming with the 1650.
Strojnowska, the sophomore from Vancouver, Washington dialed up the strongest effort, hitting the wall in the personal-best 16:27.26 for 15th overall. Waldrep also put points on the board with a new career-best 15:23.32.
Schumann would lock in 27th at 15:30.45.
Tuesday marked the women’s turn in the 1-meter diving competition. Chloe Brothers put together six strong dives for a 279.60 and seventh in prelims, ensuring a spot in the championship final. A 271.20 in the evening gave the junior sophomore overall.
Both Juliette Landi and Maria Faoro earned spots in the consolation finals. Landi pieced together a 271.35, while Faoro was right behind at 270.65.
Landi raised the bar in finals, locking up 11th place overall with a 275.65. Faoro would solidify 16th after a 204.85.
Emily Hallifax would put points on the board in 17th place after a 265.05.
Wrapping up the night, Maggie McGuire, Bella Ekk, Wyllo Hanson and Strojnowska turned in the 9th-fastest time in program history in the 800 free relay at 7:03.86. The time was also good enough for sixth place overall.
Capping off the session in style, Danny Schmidt, Daniel Krichevsky, Warner Russ and Luke Bedsole pieced together the most electric race of the evening. A stunning second-leg 1:30.83 from Krichevsky leapfrogged the Tigers into medal contention. The freshmen duo of Russ and Bedsole carried the race home as Auburn earned its first medal (bronze) of the SEC Championships with a 6:12.02. The time was also the fourth-fastest in program history.
Scores
Men
1. Florida – 274
2. Tennessee – 213
3. Texas – 190
4. LSU – 177
5. Kentucky – 175
6. Georgia – 155
7. Auburn – 146
8. Alabama – 136
9. Missouri – 105
10. South Carolina – 102
11. Texas A&M – 91
Women
1. Texas – 232
2. Florida – 190
2. South Carolina – 175
4. Auburn – 169
5. Georgia – 160
6. Tennessee – 153
7. Texas A&M – 139
8. Alabama – 133
9. Kentucky – 126
10. Missouri – 122
11. LSU – 114
12. Arkansas – 81
13. Vanderbilt – 58
The schedule of remaining events is below:
Wednesday, Feb. 18
8:30 a.m. CT – Prelims (100 back, 200 fly, 100 breast)
11 a.m. CT – Prelims & Consolations (Men’s 3-meter)
4:30 p.m. CT – Finals (100 back, 200 fly, 100 breast, Men’s 3-meter)
Thursday, Feb. 19
8:30 a.m. CT – Prelims (100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free)
11 a.m. CT – Prelims & Consolations (Women’s 3-meter)
4:30 p.m. CT – Finals (100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, Women’s 3-meter, 400 MR)
Friday, Feb. 20
8:30 a.m. CT – Prelims (200 breast, 50 free, 500 free)
11 a.m. CT – Prelims & Consolations (Men’s Platform)
4:30 p.m. CT – Finals (200 breast, 50 free, 500 free, Men’s Platform, 200 FR)
Saturday, Feb. 21
8:30 a.m. CT – Prelims (200 IM, 100 free, 200 back)
11 a.m. CT – Prelims and Consolations (Women’s Platform)
4:30 p.m. CT – Finals (200 IM, 100 free, 200 back, Women’s Platform, 400 FR)