COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 2-ranked Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team extended its lead with a strong second day at the 2018 Southeastern Conference Championships at the Student Recreation Natatorium on Thursday.
In the Team Standings…
The Aggies (469 points) flexed their muscles for 309 points on the first full day of action and have a 108-point lead over second-place Georgia (361 points). Trailing the Aggies and Bulldogs were Tennessee (337.5), Auburn (250.5), Kentucky (250), Alabama (241), Missouri (236), Florida (219.5), South Carolina (218.5), Arkansas (188), LSU (161) and Vanderbilt (106).
Head Coach Steve Bultman said:
"We had a super morning today where 17 of our 18 competitors made it back and got a second swim. That was awesome and we just need to keep doing that. If we can do that, I think we'll be in pretty good shape."
(On Sydney Pickrem's school, pool and SEC meet record in the 200 IM) "She can swim that race a lot of different ways. Tonight she was a little more under control for the first 100 and then brought it back really well. She's got a weapon in breaststroke and she used it tonight.
Sydney Pickrem said:
"My best friend told me after the race that 'you gave me a heart attack,' but that's how it normally goes and I knew I had to stick to my race strategy. I'm not really shaved and tapered and the front-end speed isn't there yet. I just knew I had to stay with it and get my hand to the wall. Steve told me that I had the potential to go 1:52 and I just believed in him. I really wanted that pool record at our home pool, so it feels pretty good."
500 free …
Junior Claire Rasmus took the bronze medal in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:39.23, while sophomore Katie Portz contributed a seventh-place effort in 4:43.37. Also contributing points in the race were freshman Haley Yelle (10th, 4:42.73), sophomore Sara Metzsch (19th, 4:45.56) and freshman Joy Field (4:46.37).
200 IM …
Junior Sydney Pickrem won her first SEC Championship in the 200-yard IM with a time of 1:52.69, which was a school, pool and SEC meet record. It was the Canadian Olympian's fourth individual SEC crown and her six individual or relay title. Pickrem trailed at the halfway mark, but used a swift breaststroke leg of 32.09 to get within range of the lead. She closed out the win by covering the final 50 in 26.84.
The Aggies put an incredible nine swimmers in the finals of the 200 IM and the group combined to score 166 points in the race. Other Aggies contributing points were senior Lisa Bratton (5th, 1:55.05), junior McKenna DeBever (6th, 1:56.58), senior Bethany Galat (9th, 1:55.81), senior Kristin Malone (11th, 1:56.41), senior Esther Gonzalez (12th, 1:56.78), sophomore Anna Belousova (13th, 1:56.81), junior Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo (1:57.22) and freshman Jing Quah (18th, 1:57.58).
50 free …
Sophomore Raena Eldridge placed 16th in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.78 and sophomore Golf Sapianchai chipped in a 20th place effort in 22.70.
200 free relay …
The Aggies closed out the night with a fifth-place effort in the 200-yard freestyle relay with the foursome of Sapianchai, Eldridge, DeBever and Malone touching in 1:28.91.
In the Team Standings…
The Aggies (469 points) flexed their muscles for 309 points on the first full day of action and have a 108-point lead over second-place Georgia (361 points). Trailing the Aggies and Bulldogs were Tennessee (337.5), Auburn (250.5), Kentucky (250), Alabama (241), Missouri (236), Florida (219.5), South Carolina (218.5), Arkansas (188), LSU (161) and Vanderbilt (106).
Head Coach Steve Bultman said:
"We had a super morning today where 17 of our 18 competitors made it back and got a second swim. That was awesome and we just need to keep doing that. If we can do that, I think we'll be in pretty good shape."
(On Sydney Pickrem's school, pool and SEC meet record in the 200 IM) "She can swim that race a lot of different ways. Tonight she was a little more under control for the first 100 and then brought it back really well. She's got a weapon in breaststroke and she used it tonight.
Sydney Pickrem said:
"My best friend told me after the race that 'you gave me a heart attack,' but that's how it normally goes and I knew I had to stick to my race strategy. I'm not really shaved and tapered and the front-end speed isn't there yet. I just knew I had to stay with it and get my hand to the wall. Steve told me that I had the potential to go 1:52 and I just believed in him. I really wanted that pool record at our home pool, so it feels pretty good."
Thoughts from @CoachBultman following day two of #SECSD18:#12thMan pic.twitter.com/bHbc2yFc6k
— Texas A&M Swimming (@AggieSwimDive) February 16, 2018
"It feels really good. Those points definitely matter."@sydneypickrem after her win in the 200 IM at #SECSD18.#FindAWay #12thMan pic.twitter.com/2zQz5N7jRW
— Texas A&M Swimming (@AggieSwimDive) February 16, 2018
500 free …
Junior Claire Rasmus took the bronze medal in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:39.23, while sophomore Katie Portz contributed a seventh-place effort in 4:43.37. Also contributing points in the race were freshman Haley Yelle (10th, 4:42.73), sophomore Sara Metzsch (19th, 4:45.56) and freshman Joy Field (4:46.37).
200 IM …
Junior Sydney Pickrem won her first SEC Championship in the 200-yard IM with a time of 1:52.69, which was a school, pool and SEC meet record. It was the Canadian Olympian's fourth individual SEC crown and her six individual or relay title. Pickrem trailed at the halfway mark, but used a swift breaststroke leg of 32.09 to get within range of the lead. She closed out the win by covering the final 50 in 26.84.
The Aggies put an incredible nine swimmers in the finals of the 200 IM and the group combined to score 166 points in the race. Other Aggies contributing points were senior Lisa Bratton (5th, 1:55.05), junior McKenna DeBever (6th, 1:56.58), senior Bethany Galat (9th, 1:55.81), senior Kristin Malone (11th, 1:56.41), senior Esther Gonzalez (12th, 1:56.78), sophomore Anna Belousova (13th, 1:56.81), junior Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo (1:57.22) and freshman Jing Quah (18th, 1:57.58).
50 free …
Sophomore Raena Eldridge placed 16th in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.78 and sophomore Golf Sapianchai chipped in a 20th place effort in 22.70.
200 free relay …
The Aggies closed out the night with a fifth-place effort in the 200-yard freestyle relay with the foursome of Sapianchai, Eldridge, DeBever and Malone touching in 1:28.91.