Alabama
SEC Championships
Alabama’s Rhyan White Makes History on Day Four of the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships
2/17/2023 10:26:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
The Crimson Tide senior became the first in league history to win the 100 backstroke four years in a row while the Tide racked up two gold medals, a bronze and broke one of the oldest school records on Friday
COLLEGE-STATION, Texas – Rhyan White made history Friday night on day four of the Southeastern Conference Championships, while the Crimson Tide tallied two gold medals, a bronze and broke one of its oldest school records Friday night in College Station, Texas.
White became the first swimmer in history to win four SEC women's 100 backstroke titles with a time of 50.92. She also joined with Avery Wiseman, Emily Jones and Kalia Antoniou to the Tide's second-consecutive SEC title in the 400 medley relay (3:28.46). Wiseman also brought home bronze in the 100 breaststroke (58.71) for the second year in a row.
On the men's side of the slate, Mateo Miceli broke the oldest men's school record on the books, downing Stefan Gherghel's 2003 mark in the 200 butterfly with a 1:42.02, on the way to a fifth-place finish.
Alabama closed the fourth day with the women in sixth place with 577.5 points, while the men's squad is seventh with 464 points.
Head Coach Margo Geer Said:
"We had a really strong day today. Seeing a sophomore step up and break the oldest school record on the books started us off on a great note tonight. Rhyan winning her fourth consecutive 100 back title was historic and was an awesome moment for our team. Having five girls make finals in the 100 breast, especially with the amount of points they scored was huge. The men followed that up with four in finals of the 100 breast, for another big chunk of points and that was great to see as well. Closing the night with a gutsy win in the women's 400 medley relay made a statement and was a great way to end the night. We're excited to carry our speed into tomorrow and close the meet as strong as possible."
Crimson Tide Highlights
- Rhyan White, Avery Wiseman, Emily Jones and Kalia Antoniou won gold in the women's 400 medley relay as they recorded a 3:28.46, giving the Tide back-to-back titles in the event
- White and Jones placed first (50.92) and 18th (52.36), respectively in the women's 100 backstroke
- With her win, White became the first woman in SEC history to win the 100 backstroke in four consecutive seasons
- Jones' times ranks her second, all-time, in Alabama history in the women's 100 backstroke behind White
- Alabama placed five swimmers in the women's 100 breaststroke, with Avery Wiseman leading the charge, taking the bronze medal in 58.71
- In addition to Wiseman's bronze, Diana Petkova, Cat Wright, Jocelyn Fisher and Kasia Norman took eighth (59.92), ninth (59.23), 12th (59.61) and 17th (59.95), respectively
- The women's breaststroke contingent combined to score 93 points for UA, with each swimmer posting a time within Alabama's all-time top 10 list
- Matt Menke and Eric Stelmar finished 5th (45.51) and 21st (46.81), respectively, in the men's 100 backstroke
- Mateo Miceli placed fifth in the men's 200 butterfly (1:42.02), breaking the previous school record, set in 2003 by two-time NCAA 200 butterfly champion Stefan Gherghel, in the process
- In addition to Miceli's school-record, Will Watson took 19th in the 200 butterfly, clocking a 1:44.66 for a new career-best time which ranks him 10th all-time at UA in the event
- Derek Maas, Linus Kahl, Trey Sheils and Michael Deans placed fifth (51.82), 14th (52.78), 17th (52.82) and 22nd (53.78), respectively in the men's 100 breaststroke, scoring a combined 50 points for the Crimson Tide
Up Next
- The 2023 SEC Swimming & Diving Championships concludes Saturday
- Preliminaries for the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle and 200 breaststroke begin at 9:30 a.m. CT
- Prelims for men's platform diving begin at noon followed by timed finals for the 1650 free
- Finals get underway at 5:30 p.m. CT, with streaming available on SECN+ and live results available on MeetMobile
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