Alabama
SEC Championships
Alabama Senior Sets SEC Record on the way to Third-Consecutive 100 Backstroke Title at SEC Championships
2/17/2017 10:07:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The two-time defending Southeastern Conference 100 backstroke champion heading into this week, Alabama swimming and diving senior Connor Oslin made it a three-peat Friday evening, clocking in at 44.73 at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center on the University of Tennessee campus.
"That was an adrenaline pumper," UA head coach Dennis Pursley said. "To have three in the top four of an event and to have two under the old SEC record is pretty spectacular. With those swims and more, I'm not sure we could have asked for more."
Oslin broke Ryan Lochte's 2005 SEC Championship record of 45.19 as well as smashing his own school record of 45.08 in the event. The Kennesaw, Ga., native was the No. 1 seed after the morning prelims with a time of 45.29. Oslin finished more than a quarter of a second ahead of the field.
Two other Crimson Tide swimmers finished in the top four in the men's 100 backstroke. Junior Luke Kaliszak followed Oslin on the podium, taking second with a career-best 45.03, which ranks second all-time at Alabama and was also under the previous SEC record. Junior Christopher Reid finished fourth with a career-best time of 46.17, which ranks him third all-time at Alabama.
Oslin's wins marks the first time an Alabama swimmer has won three consecutive SEC titles in the same event since Vlad Polyakov won the 100 breaststroke in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
"Hopefully tonight sets us up for a strong finish tomorrow," Pursley said.
Alabama took third in both the women's and men's 100 breaststroke. Senior Bridget Blood took the bronze in the women's 100 breaststroke, clocking in at 59.95 while senior Anton McKee finished third with a 52.28. Senior Pavel Romanov was eighth in the men's 100 breaststroke with a 52.93. Two other Alabama women also scored in the 100 breaststroke. Sophomore Justine Macfarlane (1:01.97) was 19th and sophomore Emma Murray (1:02.34) was 22nd .
"It was great to have Anton and Bridget up on the podium in the 100 breaststroke," Pursley said. "We also saw Pavel get under 53 seconds tonight, which was great."
Senior Kara Fredlock took fourth in the women's platform event after tallying 279.65 points over five dives in finals.
"That was a great performance by Kara," Pursley said. "To have a diver in finals was great for us, and it was a big step forward for her."
The men's 400 medley relay took fourth when Oslin, McKee, Kaliszak and freshman Zane Waddell combined for a 3:05.45.
In the women's 100 backstroke, three Tide women scored, led by sophomore Katie Coughlin's 15th place finish (53.57). Sophomore Katie Kelsoe was 21st (54.03) and senior Caroline Korst was 22nd (54.33). in the 100 backstroke.
Junior Taylor Charles scored in the men's 200 butterfly, taking 15th with a time of 1:44.91.
At the end of day four, Alabama's men maintained their fourth place rank with 562 points while the women are 10th with 282 points.
Prelims for the championships' fifth and final day get underway Saturday at 10 a.m. ET, with Alabama competing in the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 1,650 freestyle and men's platform diving.
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