2017 SEC Championships

SEC Prelims Day 3: Kalisz Cruises 3:40, Sarah Gibson Scares SEC Record

SEC Prelims Day 3: Kalisz Cruises 3:40, Sarah Gibson Scares SEC Record

Prelims from day 3 at the 2017 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships are in the books. Sydney Pickrem, Chase Kalisz, Sarah Gibson, Caeleb Dressel, Geena Freriks, and Maxime Rooney lead the preliminary heats.

Feb 16, 2017 by Maclin Simpson
SEC Prelims Day 3: Kalisz Cruises 3:40, Sarah Gibson Scares SEC Record
Day three prelims are in the books at the 2017 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Thursday. On the women's side, ​Sarah Gibson ​of Texas A&M was the star of the morning, narrowly missing the SEC Meet Record in the 100 butterfly. From a team perspective, the Aggies put at least two swimmers in each A-final as they look to extend their lead. On the men's side, ​Caeleb Dressel​ and ​Maxime Rooney​ of Florida lead with strong swims in the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle, respectively. Florida is in a prime position to build upon its already dominant lead tonight.

400IM


Women
SEC Meet Record: 3:58.35 (Elizabeth Beisel - Florida, 2012)
NCAA 'A' Automatic: 4:05.36 
NCAA 'B' Consideration: 4:19.39

This one was all ​Sydney Pickrem​ of Texas A&M. The defending SEC champion looked in control the entire way, touching first in a 4:05.98. After that, it was a toss-up as eight women finished with a time of 4:08. Yes, EIGHT. Second through ninth place in this event ranged from a 4:08.2 to a 4:08.9. Talk about close, especially for a 400 IM. Look for the third place qualifier, ​Bethany Galat​ of Texas A&M, to give her teammate a run for her money tonight. The Aggies duo finished first and third last year and will certainly put on another show at this year's meet. ​Emma Barksdale ​of South Carolina finished in second with a 4:08.28 and could be the dark horse to spoil Texas A&M's party.

Top 8 Finalists

1.) Sydney Pickrem (Texas A&M): 4:05.98
2.) Emma Barksdale (South Carolina): 4:08.28
3.) Bethany Galat (Texas A&M): 4:08.33
4.) Meghan Small (Tennessee): 4:08.42 
5.) Emily Cameron (Georgia): 4:08.76
6.) Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo (Texas A&M): 4:087.72
7.) Sharli Brady (Mizzou): 4:08.90
8.) Mia Nonnenberg (Alabama): 4:08.85
16th: 4:13.71
24th: 4:17.13


Men
SEC Meet Record: 3:37.75 (Conor Dwyer - Florida, 2011)
NCAA 'A' Automatic: 3:40.76
NCAA 'B' Consideration: 3:54.49

This is looking like it could be another matchup of last night's thrilling 200 IM between ​Chase Kalisz ​of Georgia and ​Mark Szaranek ​of Florida. Kalisz, a 400 IM specialist, cruised through his preliminary heat to take the top seed with a 3:40.93. In the heat before, Szaranek dueled with Olympian ​Jay Litherland​ of Georgia to claim the second seed with a 3:42.42 to Litherland's 3:42.63. Kalisz is the NCAA record holder in this event with a 3:34 from 2014. Don't look for him to challenge that time tonight, but we could easily see three swimmers with sub-3:40 swims. 

Top 8 Finalists

1.) Chase Kalisz (Georgia): 3:40.93
2.) Mark Szaranek (Florida): 3:42.42
3.) Jay Litherland (Georgia): 3:42.63
4.) Tom Peribonio (South Carolina): 3:45.12
5.) Joe Patching (Auburn): 3:45.36
6.) Gunnar Bentz (Georgia): 3:45.79
7.) Sam McHugh (Tennessee): 3:45.86
8.) Alex Lebed (Florida): 3:46.44
16th: 3:48.51
24th: 3:51.46


100 Butterfly


Women
SEC Meet Record: 50.87 (Beryl Gastaldello - Texas A&M, 2015)
NCAA 'A' Automatic: 51.49
NCAA 'B' Consideration: 54.49

​Sarah Gibson​ of Texas A&M, Wednesday night's champion in the 500 freestyle, came dangerously close to her teammate's SEC meet record with a strong 50.93. The current record holder, ​Beryl Gastaldello​, was sixth with a 52.32. Unless Gastaldello can get back to top form, don't expect anyone to challenge Gibson tonight as the senior is the top seed by over half a second. The second-place finisher was ​Chelsea Britt​ of Georgia who touched in a 51.47.

Top 8 Finalists

1.) Sarah Gibson (Texas A&M): 50.93 (NCAA 'A')
2.) Chelsea Britt (Georgia): 51.47 (NCAA 'A')
3.) Haley Black (Auburn): 52.09
4.) Madeline Banic (Tennessee): 52.20
5.) Kylie Stewart (Georgia): 52.29
6.) Beryl Gastaldello (Texas A&M): 52.32
7.) Kara Kopcso (LSU): 52.34 
8.) Bailey Nero (Auburn): 52.39
16th: 53.28
24th: 54.08


Men
SEC Meet Record: 44.80 (Caeleb Dressel - Florida, 2016)
NCAA 'A' Automatic: 45.73
NCAA 'B' Consideration: 48.29

​No surprise here: ​Caeleb Dressel​ of Florida takes the top seed by over a second with a 44.87, less than a 10th off of his own meet record. Dressel is actually tied for the fastest time in the country this season with the second seed of Mizzou, ​Andrew Sansoucie​, in 44.86. However, Sansoucie is rocking an impressive beard, signaling that he is not shaved and fully tapered for this meet. Look for this to be a much more hotly contested race between these two at NCAAs. Second through eighth is separated by only two-10ths of a second, so this is going to be a fight to get on the podium and rack up team points.

Top 8 Finalists

1.) Caeleb Dressel (Florida): 44.87 (NCAA 'A')
2.) Andrew Sansoucie (Mizzou): 45.97
3.) Luis Martinez (Auburn): 46.02
4.) Logan Rysemus (LSU): 46.10
5.) Luke Kaliszak (Alabama): 46.15 
6.) Connor Oslin (Alabama): 46.16 
7.) Jan Switkowski (Florida): 46.22
8.) Ryan Coetzee (Tennessee): 46.23
16th: 47.01
24th: 47.65


200 Freestyle


Women
SEC Meet Record: 1:41.83 (Shannon Vreeland - Georgia, 2014)
NCAA 'A' Automatic: 1:43.63
NCAA 'B' Consideration: 1:47.99

Last year's bronze medalist from the SEC Championships, ​Geena Freriks​ of Kentucky, claimed the top spot this morning with a 1:45.29. Freriks will look to capitalize on the absence of ​Brittany MacLean, ​the defending champion in this race. However, she will have her hands full with a slew of 1:45s from ​Claire Rasmus​ of Texas A&M, ​Meaghan Raab​ of Georgia, and ​Erin Falconer​ of Auburn. Raab was last year's second-place finisher, so look for her to make a strong push for the title as well.

Top 8 Finalists

1.) Geena Freriks (Kentucky): 1:45.29
2.) Claire Rasmus (Texas A&M): 1:45.40
3.) Meaghan Raab (Georgia): 1:45.75
4.) Erin Falconer (Auburn): 1:45.90
5.) Meryn McCann (Georgia): 1:46.35 
6.) Kristin Malone (Texas A&M): 1:46.44
7.) Ali Galyer (Kentucky): 1:46.70
8.) Kendal Casey (Kentucky): 1:46.83
16th: 1:47.25
24th: 1:48.15


Men
SEC Meet Record: 1:31.73 (Conor Dwyer - Florida, 2011)
NCAA 'A' Automatic: 1:32.97
NCAA 'B' Consideration: 1:37.99

​Maxime Rooney​, Florida's standout freshman, dropped the second-fastest time in the country this morning with a swift 1:33.05 to take the top seed by over a second. After his blazing-fast 1:31.5 split on Tuesday night's 800 freestyle relay, Rooney was primed for a great swim. ​Fynn Minuth​, the 500 freestyle champion from South Carolina, claimed the second seed after touching in 1:34.22. Florida's ​Khader Baqlah ​touched third with a 1:34.47. The bigger storyline here is the Gators putting three up in the top five, which has major implications in the team race as they look to extend their lead.

Top 8 Finalists

1.) Maxime Rooney (Florida): 1:33.05
2.) Fynn Minuth (South Carolina): 1:34.22
3.) Khader Baqlah (Florida): 1:34.47
4.) Laurent Bams (Alabama): 1:34.56
5.) Mitch D'Arrigo (Florida): 1:34.62
6.) Walker Higgins (Georgia): 1:34.81
7.) Joey Reilman (Tennessee): 1:34.82
8.) Mikel Schreuders (Mizzou): 1:34.99
16th: 1:35.63
24th: 1:36.30