GAINESVILLE, Fla. — LSU swimmer Jane Trepp shattered the Southeastern Conference record in the 100-yard breaststroke to win the league title Friday night at the 2011 SEC Championships in Florida’s O’Connell Center Natatorium.
Trepp blew past the field with an opening 50-yard split of 27.42 seconds before coming home on the back end with a 31.52 split to register the conference’s fastest meet time ever, 58.94. The senior broke the mark of 59.29 set by Auburn’s Micah Lawrence last season.
The Estonian is only the ninth swimmer in U.S. Open history to go under 59 seconds in the event. With her championship victory, she became the first Lady Tiger swimmer since Lucy Findlay in 1997 to capture an SEC title.
“I’ve never done under a minute in this race,” Trepp said following her performance. “It’s my senior year, so I’m happy I finally did it. I’m tired, but I’m very happy.”
Initially there was some question amongst the coaching staff as to whether Trepp should race in the 100 breast rather than the 100 freestyle on Saturday, but those questions were clearly put to rest on Friday.
“After we saw what she did in the medley relay earlier in the meet, we knew we had to put her in the 100 breast,” co-head coach David Geyer said. “Jane made up her mind to really go after it tonight, threw off the rest of the field with her first 50 and held on strong in the back half.
“It’s been a long time coming for her, and she certainly deserves that title and record. She’s not only one of the best athletes this program has ever seen but also one of the most modest, which is what makes her truly special.”
Trepp was one of three medal winners on the night for LSU as fellow Lady Tiger Amanda Kendall and senior Hannes Heyl each claimed bronze in the 100 butterfly competitions.
Kendall raced to a personal best and sizzling NCAA ‘B’ cut of 52.14, just three one-hundredths of a second off Trepp’s program record in the event, while Heyl improved his personal best and put himself in position to qualify for the NCAA Championships with a 46.55 clocking. The German also made an appearance in the 100 backstroke final, claiming seventh with a time of 47.22 after advancing with a lifetime best of 47.15.
“For Hannes as a senior to step up and get his first podium swim and handle that double, it’s great for him,” Geyer added. “Amanda continues to have the surreal meet of her life where she is finally starting to see the reality of it. Every swim she’s had has been phenomenal.”
Sophomores Andrei Tuomola and Sean Roddy both reached the final of the men’s 100 breast, registering sixth (53.99) and eighth (54.22), respectively. Roddy earned a spot in the final after winning a swim-off with a personal best and program top-10 mark of 54.16.
Sophomore Sara Haley and senior Ali Sanford each contributed big points for the Lady Tigers with fine efforts in the consolation final of the women’s 100 fly. Haley delivered a personal best and program top-10 time of 53.17 to finish 10th, while Sanford was 11th in a lifetime best and program top-10 mark of 54.11.
Sophomore Cari Blalock broke her first school record with a strong NCAA ‘B’ cut clocking of 4:12.46 in the 400 individual medley to give the Lady Tigers a 13th-place finish and four points in the team standings.
In the men’s 100 backstroke ‘B’ final, senior James Meyers took 10th with a 47.83 clocking, while junior Simon Diefenthal touched the wall in a personal best 48.11, fourth all-time at LSU, to record 12th.
Sophomore Jana Ruimerman gave the Lady Tigers a pair of points in the women’s 100 back with a 15th-place finish (54.96). The Aurora, Colo., native swam a lifetime best and program top-10 mark of 54.92 in the prelims.
The Lady Tigers also received points from freshman Torrey Bussey and senior Kannon Betzen in the 100 breast. Bussey reached the wall in a top time of 1:01.31 to take 11th. Betzen tied for 14th (1:02.23).
Senior Clint Hallum earned 11th in the men’s 400 IM with a personal best ‘B’ cut of 3:49.40, second in school history.
In relay action, the women’s 400 medley group of Ruimerman, Trepp, Haley and Samantha Goates broke the program mark with a 3:37.77 clocking to finish fifth. The men’s foursome of Meyers, Roddy, Heyl and Tuomola also raced to fifth with a provisional cut of 3:11.44.
The Lady Tigers will enter the final day of the meet fifth in the team standings with 295 points, only 19.5 points behind Tennessee. The LSU men’s big day propelled them from seventh to fifth in the men’s standings with 215.5 points.
During the prelims, freshman Jesi Kopcso notched a personal best, NCAA provisional mark and program top-10 time of 1:02.89 in the 100 breast to finish 19th. Sophomore Timmy Dasinger was the Tigers’ highest finisher in the 200 freestyle, placing 25th with a career-best 1:39.80 clocking.
The prelim session on the last day of the 2011 SEC Swimming Championships begins Saturday at 9 a.m. (CST). The finals start at 5 p.m.
The official site of the championships is http://www.gatorzone.com/swimmingdiving/tour/sec/2011/. Live video streaming of the prelim and final sessions can be accessed at www.GatorVision.tv.
For complete coverage of LSU’s efforts, visit our Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/LSUSwimDive) or follow us on Twitter @LSUSwimDive.
2011 SEC Swimming Championships
Feb. 16-19
Gainesville, Fla.
Men’s Team Standings*
1. Auburn – 574
2. Florida – 547
3. Tennessee – 443.5
4. Georgia – 347
5. LSU – 215.5
6. Alabama – 182
7. Kentucky – 165
8. South Carolina – 153
Women’s Team Standings*
1. Georgia – 515
2. Florida – 463
3. Auburn – 425
4. Tennessee – 314.5
5. LSU – 295
6. South Carolina – 203
7. Kentucky – 179
8. Arkansas – 149
9. Alabama – 141.5
10. Vanderbilt – 64
* – Diving scores from last week included
Schedule of Events – Saturday, Feb. 19
9 a.m. – Prelims (200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly)
TBA – 1650 Free (Timed Finals)
5 p.m. – Finals (200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, 400 Free Relay)