FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The LSU swimming and diving team wrapped up the fourth day of competition at the 2002 Southeastern Conference Championships at the Arkansas Natatorium in Fayetteville.
Thursday was the first day that swimming events were held, as the diving portion of the meet finished up on Wednesday evening. Preliminaries and finals were held in four events for both men and women on Thursday; the 500 and 50-yard freestyle, the 200-yard individual medley, and the 200-yard freestyle.
Eight LSU athletes swam in the prelims of the 50-yard freestyle, but none made the cut for the finals. LSU”s top finisher in the 50 prelims was Julie Hughes-Johnson, who finished with a time of 23.72. Georgia”s Maritza won the event and set an SEC record with a time of 22.31, breaking the 22.35 swam by Auburn”s Eileen Coparropa last season. The same was true for the men in the 50, as eight swimmers competed in the preliminaries, but none advanced to the final round. South Carolina”s Zsolt Gaspar won with a time of 19:54, setting a new pool record.
Three LSU women competed in the 200-yard individual medley. Lauren Harvey was LSU”s top finisher at 21st place with a time of 2:09.30. Maggie Bowen of Auburn won the event and broke her SEC record set last season with a time of 1:56.51. Her previous mark was a 1:57.26. LSU”s Justin Boyes earned a time of 1:53.58 in the 200 IM to place 24th but failed to make the finals.
Sophomore Stephanie Smith placed seventh in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:51.81. It marks the first appearance in the finals for Smith in her career. Smith has suffered from neck injuries the past two seasons. Smith will compete in the 1650-freestyle on Saturday, the last day of competition.
Ross Buffington finished 19th in the 500 free with a time of 4:32.68 but did not make the finals. Buffington will also compete in the 1650, an event in which he is the school”s record-holder. LSU”s team of Mandy Leach, Donna Leslie, Dawn Coy and Julie Hughes-Johnson finished sixth in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:32.92. Leach led off the relay with a time of 23:05, which broke a nine-year old school record. The LSU men were disqualified in the 200-freestyle relay for a minor infraction.
“Stephanie Smith”s performance in the 500 today was just amazing considering what she has been through in the past with all the injuries,” said assistant coach Lars Jorgensen. “She deserves all the credit because she has gotten better and was not even swimming a year ago at this time.”
The LSU women, leaders after Wednesday”s competition, are in fourth place with a score of 200.5. Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee are all close behind. The men are currently eighth with a score of 81.0. Florida leads both the men”s and women”s standings heading into Friday”s events.