31 Gators Qualify for Finals on Day 2 of SEC Championships

Dillon Hillis qualifed for Wednesday night's 200 IM A-final.

31 Gators Qualify for Finals on Day 2 of SEC Championships

Wednesday, February 15, 2023 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Day two of the SEC Championships finals begin at 6:30 p.m. (ET) on SECN+.

By: Nick Yuska

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 5/6 Florida men's and women's swimming and diving teams will send 30 swimmers and one diver to tonight's SEC Championships finals in the 500 free, 200 IM, women's 1-meter and 50 free at 6:30 p.m. (ET) on SEC Network +.

The Gators notched 30 B-cut times and one A-cut time (Joshua Liendo, 50 free-18.35). Maha Amer finished second in the 1-meter.

Emma Weyant, Hayden Miller and Tylor Mathieu all advanced to Wednesday night's 500 free A final. Weyant, who was in lane one during the sixth heat, shaved nearly six seconds off her seeded time to finished second in the prelims at 4:39.26. Miller, who was right next to Weyant in lane two, touched the wall in 4:39.88 for a fourth in the prelims. Mathieu, who came into the day with the second-fastest time in the conference, notched seventh to give the Gators three in the A final.

Anna Auld will swim in the B final following a time of 4:43.36 for 16th in the morning session, while Camille DeBoer and Mabel Zavaros qualified for the C final.

Women's 500 free prelims:
2. Emma Weyant - 4:39.26*
4. Hayden Miller - 4:39.88*
7. Tylor Mathieu - 4:41.08*
16. Anna Auld - 4:43.36^
23. Camille DeBoer - 4:45.47'
24. Mabel Zavaros - 4:45.88'
30. Amanda Ray - 4:47.66
34. Elise Bauer - 4:48.18
38. Leah DeGeorge - 4:49.00
45. Allie Piccirillo - 4:49.90
* advances to A final
^advances to B final
' advances to C final

In the men's 500 free prelims, Alfonso Mestre and Jake Mitchell, who both had top-10 times in the country in the event, finished one-two and will represent Florida in the middle lanes of the A-final. Linscheer, who shaved over five seconds off his seed time, and Eric Brown also qualified for the A-final, resulting in half of the A-final being Gators.

Oskar Lindholm finished 10th at 4:16.06, just in front of Tyler Watson's 14:16.17 and 11th place finish, as the duo will compete in the B-final tonight.

Men's 500 Free Prelims:
1. Alfonso Mestre - 4:12.08*
2. Jake Mitchell - 4:12.54*
5. Giovanni Linscheer - 4:14.22*
7. Eric Brown - 4:14.36*
10. Oskar Lindholm - 4:16.06^
11. Tyler Watson - 4:16.17^
*advances to A final
^advances to B final

Zoe Dixon continued her impressive freshman campaign in the women's 200 IM prelims, finishing fourth at 1:55.85, a career-best. Dixon cut 1.35 seconds off her seed time, and is the lone Gator in tonight's women's 200 IM A-final.

Florida will have three compete in the B-final tonight. Kathleen Golding just missed the A-final, finishing in ninth at 1:57.27, while Nina Kucheran, who dropped almost four seconds off her time this season, placed 13th. Aris Runnels claimed the final spot in the B-final with a time of 1:58.29.

Women's 200 IM:
4. Zoe Dixon - 1:55.85*
9. Kathleen Golding - 1:57.27^
13. Nina Kucheran - 1:57.81^
16. Aris Runnels - 1:58.29^
*advances to A final
^advances to B final

Florida qualified three in the men's 200 IM A-final; Julian Smith, Dillon Hillis and Joaquin Gonzalez Pinero. Hillis dropped nearly four seconds off his seed time to make the A-final, while Smith lowered his career-best at 1:42.64. Joaquin Gonzalez Pinero snatched the final spot in the A-final after clocking a 1:43.53.

Kevin Vargas finished 21st at 1:44.94, and will compete in the C-final this evening.

Men's 200 IM Prelims:
5. Julian Smith - 1:42.64*
7. Dillon Hillis - 1:43.23*
8. Joaquin Gonzalez Pinero - 1:43.53*
21. Kevin Vargas - 1:44.94'
26. Mason Laur - 1:45.66
27. Aleksas Savickas - 1:45.69
49. Jace Crawford - 1:48.30
*advances to A final
'advances to C final

The Gators placed all four swimmers in the top 10 of the women's 50 free prelims, including three in the top-eight to reach the A-final. Katie Mack, coming off a school record 200 medley relay last night, finished fourth at 22.01, ahead of Ekaterina Nikonova's 22.11 and sixth place finish. MIcayla Cronk secured the last A-final spot at 22.25, while Talia Bates with swim in the B-final after finishing 10th at 22.31.

Women's 50 Free Prelims:
4. Katie Mack - 22.01*
6. Ekaterina Nikonova - 22.11*
8. Micayla Cronk - 22.25*
10. Talia Bates - 22.31^
*advances to A final
^advances to B final

The Gators went two-three-four in the men's 50 free prelims. Josh Liendo posted an A-cut time of 18.35, the second-fastest 50 free in pool history at Texas A&M. Macguire McDuff went sub-19 seconds for the first time in his career at 18.99, while Chaney's 19.04 put him in fourth overall.

Alberto Mestre will swim in the B-final, narrowly missing the A-final after finishing ninth at 19.21. Edouard Fullum-Huot will join him in the B-final after clocking a 19.21 for 12th. Eric Friese will compete in this evenings C-final after posting a 19.63.

Men's 50 Free Prelims:
2. Josh Liendo - 18.35*
3. Macguire McDuff - 18.99*
4. Adam Chaney - 19.04*
9. Alberto Mestre - 19.21^
12. Ed Fullum-Huot - 19.35^
19. Eric Friese - 19.63'

*advances to A final
^advances to B final
'advances to C final

Maha Amer bounced back after not qualifying in the 3-meter last night to place second overall in the 1-meter prelims with a 299.60. Carina Lumia was 15th at 257.95, while Elettra Neroni's scoreof 241.65 put her in 20th.

Women's 1-meter Prelims:
2. Maha Amer - 299.60*
15. Carina Lumia - 257.95
20. Elettra Neroni - 241.65
*advances to final tonight

Wednesday night's finals are set for 6:30 p.m. (ET) and can be watched on SEC Network +.

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