Photo by: University of Georgia
Texas A&M Women Add to Lead at SEC Swimming & Diving
Feb 22, 2019 | Women's Swimming and Diving
ATHENS, Ga. --- The Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team continued to add to its lead and put itself a solid position for a fourth-straight conference crown at the Southeastern Conference Championships on Friday at the University of Georgia.
"It was another good, solid day," Aggie head coach Steve Bultman said. "We actually increased our lead so we're really excited about that. The girls are doing a great job stepping up and doing a lot of lifetime bests. We're really excited about that. We've got a good day tomorrow. Historically we've done very well on the final day and we're excited about what's coming up.
SEC Champions in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Aggies lead the way in 2019 with 871.5 points after four days of action and go into the final day with an 83-point lead over second-place Florida (788.5). Looking up at the Aggies and Gators were Tennessee (709.5), Georgia (677.5), Kentucky (657.5), Auburn (643), Missouri (503.5), Arkansas (420), LSU (416.5), South Carolina (392), Alabama (312.5) and Vanderbilt (122).
After a two day drought of individual championships, junior Anna Belousova got the Aggies to the top of the award podium with a scintillating performance in the 100-yard breaststroke. Belousova led start to finish, but had to hold off a charging Nikol Popov of Tennessee to win with a lifetime best time of 57.99, which was .25 of second ahead of Popov. With the swift swim, Belousova becomes just the second SEC swimmer under 58 seconds in the 100 breaststroke, joining former Texas A&M NCAA Champion Breeja Larson.
"Great race – 57.9 – that's really doing something," Bultman said. "The school record is 57-low by Breeja (Larson) and I thought it might be there tonight there for a while. Between now and next year, I think she'll have a shot to maybe scare it for sure."
Also making podium trips for the Aggies on Friday were sophomore Jing Quah in the 200 butterfly (2nd, 1:54.29) and senior Alais Kalonji in the platform dive (3rd, 292.25 points).
200 Butterfly
Runner up finish for sophomore Jing Quah in 1:54.29, while fellow sophomore Taylor Pike took fourth in 1:54.43. Sophomore Camryn Toney got the Aggies started fast with a 200 fly C final win in a lifetime best 1:56.95 in the first race of the evening session.
100 Backstroke:
A trio of Aggies combine to contribute 38 points to the team score. Junior Raena Eldridge places 11th in 53.22 and junior Sara Metzsch takes 12th in 53.24. Freshman Emma Carlton moves up to 18th with a time of 53.47.
100 Breaststroke:
Aggie junior Anna Belousova became the second swimmer in SEC history to eclipse the 58-second barrier in the 100 breaststroke, joining former Texas A&M NCAA Champion Breeja Larson. Belousova repeated as SEC Champion in the race with a winning time of 57.99. Also in the A final, freshman Kylie Powers, who became the 10th Aggie to go under a minute in the 100 breast, placed seventh in 1:00.24. Junior Victoria Roubique won the B final with a lifetime best time of 1:00.00.
Platform Dive:
Defending champion Alais Kalonji earned the bronze medal with a 292.25 point total. Kalonji moved up into the bronze medal spot with a sparkling 75.60 score on her final dive, a back 1 ½ somersault 2 ½ twist free.
400 Medley Relay:
The foursome of junior Sara Metzsch, junior Anna Belousova, sophomore Jing Quah and senior Claire Rasmus placed fifth with a season-best time of 3:31.68.
"It was another good, solid day," Aggie head coach Steve Bultman said. "We actually increased our lead so we're really excited about that. The girls are doing a great job stepping up and doing a lot of lifetime bests. We're really excited about that. We've got a good day tomorrow. Historically we've done very well on the final day and we're excited about what's coming up.
SEC Champions in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Aggies lead the way in 2019 with 871.5 points after four days of action and go into the final day with an 83-point lead over second-place Florida (788.5). Looking up at the Aggies and Gators were Tennessee (709.5), Georgia (677.5), Kentucky (657.5), Auburn (643), Missouri (503.5), Arkansas (420), LSU (416.5), South Carolina (392), Alabama (312.5) and Vanderbilt (122).
After a two day drought of individual championships, junior Anna Belousova got the Aggies to the top of the award podium with a scintillating performance in the 100-yard breaststroke. Belousova led start to finish, but had to hold off a charging Nikol Popov of Tennessee to win with a lifetime best time of 57.99, which was .25 of second ahead of Popov. With the swift swim, Belousova becomes just the second SEC swimmer under 58 seconds in the 100 breaststroke, joining former Texas A&M NCAA Champion Breeja Larson.
"Great race. 57.9, that's really doing something."
— Texas A&M Swimming (@AggieSwimDive) February 23, 2019
?? @CoachBultman#ButTheyDid #GigEm pic.twitter.com/hYzfVEEUKF
"Great race – 57.9 – that's really doing something," Bultman said. "The school record is 57-low by Breeja (Larson) and I thought it might be there tonight there for a while. Between now and next year, I think she'll have a shot to maybe scare it for sure."
Also making podium trips for the Aggies on Friday were sophomore Jing Quah in the 200 butterfly (2nd, 1:54.29) and senior Alais Kalonji in the platform dive (3rd, 292.25 points).
200 Butterfly
Runner up finish for sophomore Jing Quah in 1:54.29, while fellow sophomore Taylor Pike took fourth in 1:54.43. Sophomore Camryn Toney got the Aggies started fast with a 200 fly C final win in a lifetime best 1:56.95 in the first race of the evening session.
100 Backstroke:
A trio of Aggies combine to contribute 38 points to the team score. Junior Raena Eldridge places 11th in 53.22 and junior Sara Metzsch takes 12th in 53.24. Freshman Emma Carlton moves up to 18th with a time of 53.47.
100 Breaststroke:
Aggie junior Anna Belousova became the second swimmer in SEC history to eclipse the 58-second barrier in the 100 breaststroke, joining former Texas A&M NCAA Champion Breeja Larson. Belousova repeated as SEC Champion in the race with a winning time of 57.99. Also in the A final, freshman Kylie Powers, who became the 10th Aggie to go under a minute in the 100 breast, placed seventh in 1:00.24. Junior Victoria Roubique won the B final with a lifetime best time of 1:00.00.
Platform Dive:
Defending champion Alais Kalonji earned the bronze medal with a 292.25 point total. Kalonji moved up into the bronze medal spot with a sparkling 75.60 score on her final dive, a back 1 ½ somersault 2 ½ twist free.
400 Medley Relay:
The foursome of junior Sara Metzsch, junior Anna Belousova, sophomore Jing Quah and senior Claire Rasmus placed fifth with a season-best time of 3:31.68.
Players Mentioned
Breast/IM/Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free/Fly/Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Free/Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back/Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
IM/Fly
/ Women's Swimming and DivingNCAA Swimming Preview: Steve Bultman
Wednesday, March 13
SEC Championship Preview: Steve Bultman
Wednesday, February 14
Art Adamson Preview: Steve Bultman
Tuesday, November 14
Ask the Aggies: Ideal Day?
Tuesday, October 17
