Alabama Shatters School Record at SEC Championships
2/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Several lifetime best swims and the decimation of a school record highlighted Alabama's fifth day at the Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Championships in Gainesville, Fla. at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Natatorium.
In the team standings the Crimson Tide men are fifth with 196.50 points while the women are sixth 127 points. Auburn leads the men's race followed by Florida, Georgia and Kentucky. Georgia tops the women's standing, followed by Florida, Auburn, Kentucky and South Carolina.
"We had some great swims today," head coach Eric McIlquham said. "Several lifetime bests and a school record in the 400 medley relay for the men. Tomorrow is a strong day for us as we look to move up."
The 400 medley relay squad of senior Franck Southon, sophomore Vlad Polyakov, sophomore Apostolis Tsagkarakis and junior Darren Erasmus, shattered the school record set in 2003 with a time of 3:13.86. Polyakov, Tsagkarakis and Erasmus were all part of the record setting relay in '03. Southon led the Tide off with a lifetime best 49.48.
Tsagkarakis won the consolation final of the 50 freestyle, posting a 19.87 to take ninth overall. Erasmus was 10th overall with a 20.10. Erasmus posted a career best 20.06 in the preliminaries.
Southon and junior J.T. Jones both scored in the 200 individual medley. Southon took 10th with another career best time, 1:48.71, while Jones was 16th at 1:51.53.
Senior Arlene Semeco took seventh in the 50 freestyle, posting a 22.85. Semeco qualified for the finals with a career best 22.81 which moves her up to second all-time for the Crimson Tide and just a tenth of a second off the school record.
Polyakov and senior Anne Poleska will both vie for the SEC title in the 100 breaststroke on Friday. The meet finishes Saturday.
Men
| Rank | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn | 342 |
| 2 | Florida | 300 |
| 3 | Georgia | 231 |
| 4 | Kentucky | 204 |
| 5 | Alabama | 196.5 |
| 6 | Tennessee | 127 |
| 7 | Louisiana State | 96.5 |
| 8 | South Carolina | 95 |
Women
| Rank | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 314 |
| 2 | Florida | 273 |
| 3 | Auburn | 256 |
| 4 | Kentucky | 204 |
| 5 | South Carolina | 155 |
| 6 | Alabama | 127 |
| 7 | Louisiana State | 112 |
| 8 | Arkansas | 99 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 76 |
