Kristian Gkolomeev Named SEC Male Swimmer of the Year
4/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Alabama sophomore Kristian Gkolomeev has been named the Southeastern Conference Male Swimmer of the Year the conference office announced Tuesday.
"We are extremely proud of everything that Kristian accomplished this season," UA head coach Dennis Pursley said. "The amazing thing to us is that as good as he was this year, he is just starting to scratch the surface when it comes to his potential."
Gkolomeev, who was named the SEC Championships Swimmer of the Meet in February, enjoyed one of the most dominating seasons a sprinter could have in 2014-15. The 2015 NCAA 100 freestyle champion won two SEC titles (50 and 100 freestyle) and was part of two SEC champion relays (200 freestyle and 400 medley), one of which set a new SEC record, at this year's conference meet.
Over the three days of the NCAA men's swimming and diving championships, Gkolomeev was as impressive as any sprinter in the meet, both individually and as part of the Crimson Tide's relays.
At this year's NCAA Championships, only four swimmers posted a flat start 50 freestyle under 19 seconds and only Gkolomeev did it more than three times. The sophomore sprint ace posted four flat-start 50s under 19, including both prelims and finals of the 50 freestyle, where he finished second, and leading off the Tide's 200 freestyle relay in both prelims and finals. The leadoff leg of any freestyle relay is a flat start.
Overall, there were 15 collegiate swims under 19 seconds in the 50 freestyle this season with Gkolomeev posting seven, including four of the top five. His school-record 19.64 at the SEC Championships stands as the fastest collegiate 50 in the nation during the 2014-15 season.
Gkolomeev's school-record 41.58 to win the NCAA 100 freestyle championship was the fastest collegiate flat start 100 of the season. He also posted the second fastest 100 this season after posting a 41.68 to win the SEC 100 freestyle.
The Athens, Greece, native posted the fastest 50 freestyle relay split at the NCAA Championships after going 18.24 to anchor the Tide's NCAA runner-up 200 medley relay. His 40.94 anchor leg was the fastest in the 400 medley relay.
In addition to setting the school records in the 50 and 100 freestyles multiple times this season, Gkolomeev also swam legs on all five school-record relays in 2015.
Gkolomeev is the first Alabama swimmer to earn SEC Swimmer of the Year honors since Arne Borgstrom in 1982. He also combined with senior Kaylin Burchell to give Alabama a clean sweep of the SEC Championships Swimmer of the Meet honors this season. Burchell, who won the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the SEC Championships, became the first UA woman to earn SEC Swimmer of the Meet honors.
Players Mentioned
