Texas A&M women build lead at SEC Swimming & Diving
ATHENS, Ga. — The Texas A&M women’s swimming and diving increased its lead in the team standings at 2019 Southeastern Conference Championships on Thursday at the University of Georgia.
The three-time defending champion Aggies built their lead after three days of action to 57 points over the second place Florida Gators. The Aggies hold a 618.5-561.5 lead over the Gators. Looking up at the Aggies and Gators were Tennessee (557.5), Georgia (471.5), Auburn (447), Kentucky (364), Arkansas (346), Missouri (329.5), South Carolina (278), LSU (273.5), Alabama (209) and Vanderbilt (90).
“The girls have been stepping up and doing a great job of racing,” Aggie head coach Steve Bultman said. “They have been competing extremely hard. We’re still there on top and that’s where we want to be.”
Earning spots in Championship finals for the Aggies on day three were senior Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo in the 400-yard IM (3rd, 4:05.55), sophomore Taylor Pike in the 100 butterfly (8th, 52.87), senior Claire Rasmus in the 200 free (4th, 1:43.96) and junior Katie Portz in the 200 free (8th, 1:46.38).
Event Recaps:
400 IM
Senior Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo earns the bronze with a lifetime best 4:05.55. Sophomore Camryn Toney places 10th (4:07.04) and freshman Caroline Theil takes 22nd (4:14.32).
100 butterfly
Aggies total 49 points in 100 fly with Taylor Pike placing 8th (52.87), Jing Quah taking 11th (52.50) and Emma Carlton finishing 16th (54.26)
200 freestyle
Aggies total 81 points in the 200 free with Claire Rasmus (4th, 1:43.96), Katie Portz (8th, 1:46.38), McKenna DeBever (13th, 1:46.14), Haley Yelle (15th, 1:46.26) and Golf Sapianchai (19th, 1:46.00).
Texas A&M men hold steady in third at SEC Swimming & Diving
ATHENS, Ga. — The Texas A&M men’s swimming and diving team broke two more school records while holding steady in third place in the team standings at the 2019 Southeastern Conference Championships on Thursday at the University of Georgia.
Florida took over the day three lead with 636 points, followed by Missouri (625), Texas A&M (492), Tennessee (442), Alabama (441.5), Georgia (436), Kentucky (386.5), Auburn (343), South Carolina (292) and LSU (265).
Leading the way for the Aggies was sophomore diver Kurtis Mathews, who earned the silver medal in the 3-meter springboard dive with a 444.05 point total. Mathews’ list produced four dives with 75-point-plus scores, including a sublime 84.0 total on a reverse 3 ½ somersault tuck. Teammate Sam Thornton was in the mix for the bronze, but missed third place by just .35 of a point with a 439.15 performance.
“I came out feeling great in the warmup,” Mathews said. “I’m just a couple months out of surgery so I haven’t had the greatest preparation, but I managed to get away with the silver. Great performances by my competitors and a very tough competition.”
Breaking school records in the pool were sophomore Mark Theall and junior Ben Walker. Theall, who shattered the 500 freestyle record on Wednesday, took down the 200 freestyle record with a 1:33.91 clocking in the morning prelims and then placed sixth in the evening final with a time of 1:34.02. Walker took nearly a second and a half off his previous lifetime best as he eclipsed the 400 IM record with a time of 3:43.01 while winning the bonus final.
Event Recaps:
400 IM
Junior Ben Walker shatters the 400 IM school record while winning the C final in 3:43.01.
100 butterfly
Angel Martinez places 5th (45.79), and Mateo Gonzalez takes 20th in lifetime best 46.86.
200 freestyle
Aggies total 53 points in the 200 free with sophomore Mark Theall leading the way with a 6th place finish (1:34.02). Adam Koster was second in the B final in lifetime best 1:34.93, while Steve Richardson was 15th in 1:35.57.
3-meter dive
Aggie duo of sophomore Kurtis Mathews and senior Sam Thornton take second and fourth to combine for 54 valuable points. Mathews took the silver with his college best score of 444.04, while Thornton was right behind with 439.15 points.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics