COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 5/6 Florida men's and women's swimming and diving team will send 17 swimmers to the finals on the last day of the 2023 SEC Championships. 12 Gators will compete in A-finals, three in B-finals, and two in C-finals.
Florida, looking its 11th men's SEC Title in a row, enter Saturday night's final with 1056.5 points, 282 up on second-place Auburn. The Gator women have notched 962 points, up 252.5 on second-place Tennessee, and are on the verge of the 18th title in program history.
Records aren't safe in the prelims when
Dillon Hillis is in the water. Coming off a gold in last night's 100 breast, Hillis shot out of a cannon during the final prelim race of the morning, setting a meet record in the 200 breast at 1:51.53, breaking an eight year record in the process. As it was last night, Savickas finished less then .10 of a second away, claiming second in the prelims. The Gator duo will race in lanes four and five tonight on SECN+.
Kevin Vargas finished 12th and will race in the B-final.
Men's 200 Breast Prelims:
1.
Dillon Hillis - 1:51.53* (Meet Record)
2.
Aleksas Savickas - 1:51.59*
12.
Kevin Vargas - 1:55.40^
*advances to A final
^advances to B final
In the women's 200 back, prelims, Florida qualified two in the A-final (Mabel Zavarors,
Emma Weyant) and one in the B-final (
Zoe Dixon). Weyant will be in pursuit of her fourth medal of the week.
Women's 200 Back Prelims:
7.
Mabel Zavaros - 1:53.14*
8.
Emma Weyant - 1:53. 72*
10.
Zoe Dixon - 1:54.14^
*advances to A final
^advances to B final
Half of the women's 100 free A-final will feature Gators.
Micayla Cronk touched the wall in 48.36 for fifth, just ahead of
Ekaterina Nikonova at 48.38.
Talia Bates and
Katie Mack tied for seventh at 48.53, giving Florida four chances at a medal tonight.
Women's 100 Free Prelims:
5.
Micayla Cronk - 48.36*
6.
Ekaterina Nikonova - 48.38*
T7.
Talia Bates - 48.53*
T7.
Katie Mack - 48.53*
*advances to A final
The men's 100 free A-final will also present four Gators. Josh Liendo earned the top spot, swimming the second-fastest 100 free time in the nation this year at 41.22. He and Tennessee's Jordan Crooks, an up-and-coming rivalry, will face off in the middle lanes.
Julian Smith posted a career-best 41.98 to finish fourth, directly ahead of
Macguire McDuff at 42.03 in fifth.
Adam Chaney, coming off a school record in the 100 back last night, clocked a 42.26 for seventh, giving himself another chance at a medal tonight. Rising freshman Eduoard Fullum-Huot will swim in the B-final, while
Alberto Mestre will represent the Gators in the C-final.
Eric Friese finished 34th during the morning session.
Men's 100 Free Prelims:
1. Josh Liendo - 41.22* (2nd-fastest in the nation)
4.
Julian Smith - 41.98*
5.
Macguire McDuff - 42.03*
7.
Adam Chaney - 42.26*
13. Ed Fullum-Huot - 42.70^
19.
Alberto Mestre - 42.99'
34.
Eric Friese – 43.93
*advances to A final
^advances to B final
' advances to C final
Coming off a bronze in last night's 400 medley relay,
Olivia Peoples secured a spot in the C-final with a 20th place finish in the prelims at 2:12.77.
Leonardo Garcia became the first Gator male diver to qualify for a diving final, taking second in the platform prelims with a 391.60.
Anton Svirskyi tallied a top-10 finish with a score of 322.50, while
Skip Donald's 301.00 put him in 14th, scoring team points for Florida.
Women's 200 Breast Prelims:
20.
Olivia Peoples - 2:12.77'
'advances to C final
The last night of the SEC Swimming and Diving Championship is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. (ET) on SECN+.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL:
Twitter |
Facebook |
Instagram
