LEXINGTON, Ky. — The LSU swimming team posted four lifetime-best times on Thursday night, and six swimmers reached finals on the second day of the Southeastern Conference Swimming Championships at the Lancaster Aquatic Center.
The LSU women sit in fifth place with 203.5 points and trail Florida by six points for fourth place. The No. 23 LSU men are in seventh place with 126 points. However, most of the Tigers’ best events take place on Friday and Saturday.
Auburn holds the lead on the men’s and women’s sides with 450.5 points and 336 points, respectively.
“We had three lifetime bests tonight,” said head coach Adam Schmitt. “You always want to get better at night after the prelims, and that was the case. We got some of the jitters out of the way. We want to build on the momentum we have established.”
Leading the way was sophomore Katie Gilmore. Gilmore improved on her school record in the championship final of the 50 free to take sixth place (22.63). Gilmore knocked .26 seconds off her previous career-high, and she also improved on her prelim time of 22.75.
“Katie got off to a good start with a lifetime best in the 50 free,” said Schmitt. “She knows she still has two more events left, so it is still early in the meet.”
Senior Colleen Bertirotti also recorded a lifetime best in the 50 free. Bertirotti was the second highest LSU scorer by finishing fourth in the consolation final (12th overall) with a clocking of 23.02. Bertirotti, who ranks second in school history with that time, shaved .02 seconds off her previous best time and her prelim time.
Two Tigers qualified for the consolation final of the men’s 500 free. Sophomore Julius Gloeckner took second (10th overall) with a time of 4:24.99. Freshman Will Rivers was seventh (15th overall) by touching the wall at 4:28.97.
Rivers was one of two freshmen two reach consolation finals. Sean LeNeave placed 16th overall with a season-fast time of 1:51.09. That clocking registered as the ninth-best mark in school history.
Junior Miko Malberg was the men’s team highest finisher on the day when he took seventh in the championship final of the 50 free (19.98).
Malberg later led off the 200 free relay with a lifetime-best split of 19.78. LSU’s group of Malberg, sophomore Christoph Lubenau, sophomore Connor Farber and sophomore Julius Gloeckner bested its season-high by a second to finish tied for fifth (1:20.10).
The LSU women’s 200 free team edged closer to an automatic NCAA berth with a season-fast time of 1:31.59. Gilmore, Bertirotti, sophomore Sabrina Messmer and sophomore Katherine Noland finished solidly in fourth place.
Five individual events take place on Friday as well as heats of the 400 medley relay. Prelims get underway at 9 a.m. CST and finals begin at 5 p.m. CST.
2007 SEC Swimming and Diving Championship
Lancaster Aquatic Center
Lexington Ky.
Women’s Team Standings (After Day 5)
1. Auburn — 336
2. Kentucky — 231
3. Georgia — 228.5
4. Florida — 209
5. LSU — 203.5
6. Tennessee — 183
7. Alabama — 101
8. South Carolina — 94
9. Arkansas — 88
10. Vanderbilt — 46
Men’s Team Standings (After Day 5)
1. Auburn — 450.5
2. Florida — 311
3. Georgia — 216.5
4. Alabama — 153.5
5. South Carolina — 138
6. Tennessee — 133
7. LSU — 126
8. Kentucky — 65.5
Friday’s Schedule of Events (all times Central)
9 a.m.
Prelims
400 IM
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
400 Medley Relay
5 p.m.
Finals
400 IM
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
400 Medley Relay