Texas A&M women move into lead at SEC Swimming & Diving

Photo by: Russell James/Texas A&M Athletics

Feb 20, 2019 | Women's Swimming and Diving

SEC S&D Championships - Wednesday Finals

By: Brad Marquardt, Athletics Communications

ATHENS, Ga. --- A strong day up and down its lineup pushed the three-time defending champion Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team into the lead at the 2019 Southeastern Conference Championships on Wednesday at the University of Georgia.

The Aggies failed to win an event, but broke a school record and put seven individuals into Championship finals to spark their attack. Senior Sydney Pickrem led the way with a runner-up finish in the 200-yard IM with a school record time of 1:51.66.

Aggies earning spots in Championship finals were sophomore Haley Yelle (4^th) and senior Claire Rasmus (5^th) in the 500 freestyle; Pickrem, senior McKenna Debever (6th) and senior Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo (8th) in the 200 IM; and sophomore Charlye Campbell (4th) and senior Alais Kalonji (8^th) in the 1-meter dive.

"We're really pleased," Aggie head coach Steve Bultman said. "I would have like to have won some events but we had some really great swims. Sydney got beat (in the 200 IM) but that was her best time by almost a second. Some good solid 500s, really good 200 IMs by a bunch of the girls and the relay did what it needed to do to pick up the (NCAA) B cut."

The Aggies lead the way with 391.5 points, followed by Florida (340.5), Tennessee (329.5), Georgia (288.5), Auburn (273), Kentucky (248), Arkansas (242), Missouri (227.5), LSU (198.5), South Carolina (174), Alabama (137) and Vanderbilt (60).

Event Recaps:

500 freestyle
The Aggies rolled to 67 points led by a career-best fourth-place finish by sophomore Haley Yelle in lifetime best time of 4:37.92 and a fifth-place effort by senior Claire Rasmus in 4:39.11. Also chipping in points were junior Katie Portz (16^th, 4:48.05) and sophomore Joy Field (20^th, 4:43.98).

200 IM
Six Aggies earned evening swims in the 200 IM and the group combined to add 97 points to the team point total. Senior Sydney Pickrem led the way with a runner-up effort while breaking her own school record with a time of 1:51.66. Also in the A final, senior McKenna DeBever placed sixth in a lifetime best 1:55.74 and senior Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo took eighth in 1:56.34. Also contributed points were junior Anna Belousova (12^th, 1:55.80), freshman Caroline Theil (20^th, 1:57.49) and sophomore Camryn Toney (22^nd, 1:58.00).

50 freestyle
Junior Golf Sapianchai tied for 20^th with a lifetime best of 22.50 and freshman Emma Carlton placed 24^th in 22.67.

1m dive
The dive crew contributed 60 points with all three entries producing double digit points. Earning spots in the Championship final, sophomore Charlye Campbell placed fourth with a score of 313.60, while senior Alais Kalonji was eighth with a 249.10. Junior Haley Allen placed 15^th with 260.15 point total.

200 freestyle relay
The Aggies' 200 free relay foursome of junior Raena Eldridge, junior Golf Sapianchai, freshman Emma Carlton and senior Claire Rasmus placed fifth with a season-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:28.99.