AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn swimmers hit the blocks for the first time on Tuesday inside the James E. Martin Aquatic Center and did not disappoint.
The Orange and Blue combined for three podium finishes and two school records as the women sit atop the standings while the men moved up to fifth after day two of the 2024 SEC Championships
Head coach Ryan Wochomurka couldn't have asked for a better start to the 2024 Championships. The Tigers kicked off the meet with a pair of bronze finishes in the 200 medley relay.
Meghan Lee, Anastasia Makarova, Lawson Ficken and Lexie Mulvihill delivered on the women's side with a school record 1:35.25. Meanwhile, Nate Stoffle, Henry Bethel, Sohib Khaled and Kalle Makinen put together the fourth-fastest relay in program history with a 1:22.74.
When it came time for the 800 freestyle relay, Wochomurka's crew didn't let off the gas. At 7:02.26, Polina Nevmovenko, Meghan Lee, Hannah Ownbey and Kensley Merritt pieced together the seventh-fastest race in Auburn history.
Auburn broke the men's 800 free relay record twice a season ago. It was Michael Bonson, Ryan Husband, Danny Schmidt and Mason Mathias who cracked the code at the 2023 NCAA Championships and on Tuesday, the quartet swam even faster, hitting the wall at 6:11.03 for a new program record.
It was a massive day for the Auburn women in the diving well as well. Both Kyleigh Kidd and Ashlynn Sullivan unleashed personal bests to make the championship final of the 3-meter. Kidd put together a six-dive list for 309.60 while Sullivan was close behind with a 303.10.
In finals, the duo raised the bar even higher. Kidd produced a 333.95 to finish fourth. Sullivan on the other hand, conjured a 307.30 for sixth.
Abigail Farrar nearly made the championship final but inevitably settled for the consolation finals after a 283.90. Farrar would deliver her career high moments later with a 298.35 to finish 12th overall in the event.
TEAM STANDINGS
MEN
- Texas A&M – 199
- Florida - 180
- Tennessee - 155
- Georgia – 150
- Auburn - 127
- Alabama - 116
- Missouri - 111
- LSU - 106
- Kentucky - 101
- South Carolina – 93
WOMEN
- Auburn – 167
- Florida – 160
- Tennessee – 147
- LSU – 146
- Georgia – 134
- Texas A&M – 129
- Alabama – 127
- Missouri – 107
- South Carolina – 99
- Kentucky – 98
- Vanderbilt – 62
- Arkansas - 56
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Feb. 21 (Men's 3-meter, 200 FR, 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free)
9:30 a.m. CT - Prelims
Noon CT - Diving prelims (Consolation finals immediately after)
5:30 p.m. CT - Finals
Thursday, Feb. 22 (Women's 1-meter, 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free)
9:30 a.m. CT - Prelims
Noon CT - Diving prelims (Consolation finals immediately after)
5:30 p.m. CT - Finals
Friday, Feb. 23 (Men's Platform, 200 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, 400 MR)
9:30 a.m. CT - Prelims
11:30 a.m. CT - Diving prelims (Consolation finals immediately after)
5:30 p.m. CT - Finals
Saturday, Feb. 24 (Women's Platform, 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 400 FR)
9:30 a.m. CT - Prelims
11:30 a.m. CT - Diving prelims (Consolation finals immediately after)
2:30 p.m. CT - 1650 heats
5:30 p.m. CT – Finals