Live recap of Day 1 finals

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DRY – WOMEN’S SWIM & DIVE + MEN’S DIVE

  • Wednesday February 17 – Saturday February 20, 2021
  • W Swimming: Gabrielsen Natatorium – Athens, GA (Eastern time zone)
  • W&M Diving: Mizzou Aquatics Center – Columbia, MO (central time zone)
  • Defending champion: Tennessee (1x) (results)
  • Live Results – Meet Mobile
  • Live Video – SEC Network
  • Central Championship
  • Psychological sheets

We’ve entered the postseason after an entire NCAA season in the midst of the pandemic, and tonight marks the first final session of the 2021 SEC Women’s Championships. COVID-19 precautionary restrictions aside and a rule non-spectator, this year is different because the men’s and women’s competitions, traditionally combined and over five days of competition, are separated into two different four-day matches.

Tonight will be the timed finals of the 200 medley relay and 800 free relays. An extremely competitive conference, this year’s SEC Championships will see Georgia leading the charge against defending champions Tennessee. Georgia haven’t won since 2015, while Tennessee’s 2020 title snapped a four-year streak by Texas A&M and was Lady Vols’ first conference crown.

Tennessee won both relays on the first night of competition last year. Mizzou holds the seed in the 200 QN tonight (1: 36.00) and Georgia in the 800 (7: 03.94).

200 MEDLEY RELAY – TIMED FINAL

  • Record SEC – 1: 34.26, Tennessee 2019
  • NCAA Qualifying Cup – 1: 36.40
  • 2020 Champion – Tennessee, 1: 35.38
  1. Alabama 1:34.68
  2. Mizzou 1:35.61
  3. Kentucky 1:35.87

The second and third rounds ended with unofficial results, with competition officials checking the video playback for several disqualifications. After all three innings were completed, it was announced that Auburn and Georgia were DQ. Georgia had finished second in 1: 35.49 before their stint was called for an early take-off.

Alabama was stellar in this stint because Rhyan white exploded a 23.35 at the start in round two of three (teams are spaced out in all other lanes for COVID-19 safety protocol), making her the second-fastest 50 doser in the history of SCY. Alone Maggie MacNeil of Michigan was faster (23.05), and White ahead of Rachel Bootsma from the previous No. 2 position (33.36). Kaila wong was 27.35 on the chest leg, followed by a powerful 22.45 leg Morgan scott and a solid anchor 21.53 of Cora Dupre as they broke their school record by almost two seconds.

Mizzou, who led the SEC in that game with a 1: 36.00, was second in 1: 35.61, while Kentucky was the only other team under 1:36 in 1: 35.87. Mizzou got a leg of 22.42 flies from Sarah thompson, while Kentucky had a 23.92 lead Caitlin brooks and a 21.58 anchor of Riley Gaines. It’s a huge jump for Kentucky, who were 11th last year with the same four innings. Kentucky also took nearly a second off their old school record, a 1: 36.75 earlier this season.

Tennessee was fourth tonight in 1: 36.41, just 0.01 off the automatic qualifying standard in that stint, securing a 26.64 first-year leg. Mona McSharry and a 21.43 senior anchor Bailey Grinter, while Texas A&M was fifth in 1: 37.49, with their stint consisting of Kara Eisenmann and three freshmen. First year star Chloe stepanek anchored the Aggies with a 21.63.

Florida (1: 37.83) and Arkansas (1: 37.92) both beat 1:38, in freshmen Cecilia porter dropped a 26.90 chest leg for the Gators.

800 FREE RELAYS – TIMED FINAL

  • Record SEC – 6: 52.54, Georgia 2013
  • NCAA Qualifying Cup – 7: 00.86
  • 2020 Champion – Tennessee, 6: 53.27
  1. Kentucky – 6: 58.58
  2. Florida – 6: 58.91
  3. Georgia – 6: 59.42

In the final round, a four-way battle ensued between Kentucky and Alabama on the outside lanes and Florida and Georgia on the inside lanes.

Kentucky managed to hold on in the end, securing a 1: 45.22 lead from Izzy Gati, 1: 45.14 of Kaitlynn wheeler, 1: 45.78 of Sophie sorenson and a great second leg of 1: 42.44 from Riley gaines.

Florida finished in 6: 58.91 for second place, with a big half ahead of Talia Bates (1: 43.38) and Katie mack (1: 44.85), while Georgia recovered from their DQ medley relay with a 6: 59.42 for the third. Courtney harnish was 1: 42.96, a major lead and a new life record of a few tenths, and Zoie Hartman anchored in a 1: 43.54. Bates, meanwhile, narrowly missed Caroline Burckle’s UF record of 1: 43.10 back in 2008.

Alabama was also strong in fourth place, with 7: 01.36 and a lead of 1: 43.69 Morgan scott who breaks his own school record. Their relay also broke an academic record.

After trailing in the round two of three, Tennessee got a massive 1: 42.91 anchor from Tjasa Pintar after three 1:46 to push them past Texas A&M, who had led for the vast majority of the race. Tennessee was fourth in 7: 02.41.

First-year student Chloe stepanek dropped a lifetime record of 1: 43.36 to propel Texas A&M to fifth overall tonight with a 7: 02.93.

DIVE FINALS AT 1 METER

  • SEC Record – 364.30, Lauren Reedy (Mizzou) 2017
  • 2020 Champion – Alison Maillard (Auburn), 364.15

TEAM SCORES

Not including the dive, which has not started

  1. Kentucky 118
  2. Alabama 116
  3. Florida 104
  4. Tennessee 102
  5. Texas A&M 98
  6. Missouri 96
  7. LSU 84
  8. Arkansas 80
  9. South Carolina 76
  10. Vanderbilt 64
  11. Georgia 54
  12. Auburn 46



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