SEC Championships, Day 5 Prelims: Texas Poised to Capture Repeat Titles
The Texas Longhorns are on the verge of winning women’s and men’s titles in the Southeastern Conference for the second consecutive year since joining the league. Already with commanding leads in both competitions, Texas is favored to win three additional individual races on the final night of competition in Knoxville, Tenn., as Hubert Kos goes in finals of the 200 backstroke and 200 IM while Campbell Stoll is the top seed in the 200 IM as she seeks a third individual win.
Additionally, Josh Liendo goes for his third sprint title in the 100 freestyle while Camille Spink is the favorite in the women’s event after a blazing performance in the 50 free Friday.
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 32 1. University of Texas 1003.5 2. University of Tennessee 817 3. University of Florida 804.5 4. South Carolina, University of, 543.5 5. Louisiana State University 533.5 6. University of Alabama 532.5 7. Georgia, University of 504 8. Auburn University 499.5 9. Texas A&M University 424 10. Missouri 344 11. University of Arkansas 245 12. Kentucky, University of 201 13. Vanderbilt University 118
Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 33 1. University of Texas 1110.5 2. University of Florida 1056 3. University of Tennessee 840.5 4. Auburn University 595 5. Georgia, University of 554 6. Louisiana State University 525 7. University of Alabama 505.5 8. Kentucky, University of 487 9. Texas A&M University 391.5 10. Missouri 347 11. South Carolina, University of, 308
Women’s 200 IM
Already the winner of the 100 and 200 butterfly this week, Campbell Stoll of the Texas Longhorns is set up to pursue a third win in the 200 IM. Stoll had by far the quickest first half of the race in prelims as she pushed to a time of 1:55.06, her season-best mark by six tenths. Teammate Campbell Chase, the top seed entering the meet with a time of 1:53.48, came in second in the morning in 1:55.46, and Angie Coe was another Texas competitor making it back in the top heat.
Tennessee’s Emily Brown has already recorded top-three finishes in the 200 fly and 400 IM this week, and she aims for a third after going 1:55.59 for the No. 3 spot in the morning. Georgia’s Ieva Maluka was the only other swimmer under 1:56 (1:55.82).
Event 34 Women 200 Yard IM
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NCAA: N 1:48.37 3/16/2023 Kate Douglass, Virginia
SEC: S 1:51.62 2/20/2019 Meghan Small, Tennessee
Meet: M 1:51.62 2/20/2019 Meghan Small, Tennessee
Pool: P 1:48.37 3/16/2023 Kate Douglass, Virginia
1:57.88 NC
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Stoll, Campbell JR Texas 1:55.66 1:55.06 qNC
r:+0.66 24.26 52.65 (28.39)
1:26.79 (34.14) 1:55.06 (28.27)
2 Chase, Campbell SO Texas 1:53.48 1:55.46 qNC
r:+0.71 24.67 53.94 (29.27)
1:27.64 (33.70) 1:55.46 (27.82)
3 Brown, Emily Tennessee-SE 1:55.02 1:55.59 qNC
r:+0.73 24.49 52.96 (28.47)
1:27.44 (34.48) 1:55.59 (28.15)
4 Maluka, Ieva SR UGA-GA 1:56.00 1:55.82 qNC
r:+0.68 25.48 53.56 (28.08)
1:27.96 (34.40) 1:55.82 (27.86)
5 Coe, Angie A JR Texas 1:54.18 1:56.79 qNC
r:+0.62 24.60 53.94 (29.34)
1:28.65 (34.71) 1:56.79 (28.14)
6 Kruger, Lainy A JR FLOR-FL 1:55.62 1:56.84 qNC
r:+0.68 25.53 55.12 (29.59)
1:29.22 (34.10) 1:56.84 (27.62)
7 Rabb, Grace FR FLOR-FL 1:55.29 1:57.07 qNC
r:+0.65 25.49 54.13 (28.64)
1:28.42 (34.29) 1:57.07 (28.65)
8 Cheng, Chloe SR LSU-LA 2:00.60 1:58.09 q
r:+0.74 25.93 56.35 (30.42)
1:29.76 (33.41) 1:58.09 (28.33)
Men’s 200 IM
Texas’ Hubert Kos had only raced in one individual event at the SEC meet before Saturday, earning the win in a tight 100 back. Now, Kos attempts a tough double on the final night. In the 200 IM, a race in which he is the defending NCAA champion and second-fastest man in history, he qualified third in the morning in 1:42.25.
Kos will have some familiar Texas company in the final as Longhorns will swim in lanes two, three, four and five. Camden Taylor, the conference winner in the 200 free, led the way in the morning in 1:41.52, while 400 IM champion Baylor Nelson placed second in 1:41.75. Campbell McKean was fifth in 1:42.37 to complete the group of Longhorns making the top heat. Also in the mix will be Luca Urlando, the butterfly star who went 1:42.31 for the fourth seed.
Event 35 Men 200 Yard IM
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NCAA: N 1:36.34 3/23/2023 Leon Marchand, ASU
SEC: S 1:37.91 3/27/2025 Hubert Kos, Texas
Meet: M 1:38.13 2/21/2021 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
Pool: P 1:41.19 2/16/2022 Luca Urlando, Georgia
1:44.13 NC
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Taylor, Camden JR Texas 1:43.40 1:41.52 qNC
r:+0.69 22.28 47.88 (25.60)
1:17.47 (29.59) 1:41.52 (24.05)
2 Nelson, Baylor SR Texas 1:40.29 1:41.75 qNC
r:+0.61 21.94 47.18 (25.24)
1:16.61 (29.43) 1:41.75 (25.14)
3 Kos, Hubert SR Texas 1:40.69 1:42.25 qNC
r:+0.59 21.35 46.41 (25.06)
1:16.60 (30.19) 1:42.25 (25.65)
4 Urlando, Luca SR UGA-GA 1:42.95 1:42.31 qNC
r:+0.63 21.79 47.14 (25.35)
1:17.69 (30.55) 1:42.31 (24.62)
5 McKean, Campbel FR Texas 1:41.06 1:42.37 qNC
r:+0.63 21.94 48.25 (26.31)
1:17.31 (29.06) 1:42.37 (25.06)
6 Hitchcock, Drew SO UGA-GA 1:44.41 1:42.53 qNC
r:+0.67 22.04 47.40 (25.36)
1:17.65 (30.25) 1:42.53 (24.88)
7 Brown, Logan H JR Texas A&M-GU 1:41.59 1:43.06 qNC
r:+0.59 22.21 48.14 (25.93)
1:17.77 (29.63) 1:43.06 (25.29)
8 Kabbara, Munzy 5T Texas A&M-GU 1:43.81 1:43.34 qNC
r:+0.62 22.34 47.55 (25.21)
1:17.39 (29.84) 1:43.34 (25.95)
Women’s 100 Freestyle
After winning the 200 free Thursday and becoming the fourth-fastest woman ever in the 50 free Friday, Camille Spink is the big favorite in the 100 free here. The Tennessee standout clocked 46.47 in the morning, improving on her previous season best (46.54) and moving to fourth in the national standings. In the final, Spink will try to throw down a time rivaling the marks of Anna Moesch, Torri Huske and Sara Curtis at the ACC Championships as well as Liberty Clark in the Big Ten.
Eva Okaro, who now sits fifth nationally with her top time of 46.49 from midseason, went 47.09 in the morning, and the Texas freshman is the biggest threat to Spink in the final. Alabama’s Cadence Vincent was third in 47.53 while Texas went three up yet again as Erin Gemmell tied for fifth and Nikolett Padar placed seventh.
Event 36 Women 100 Yard Freestyle
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NCAA: N 44.71 3/22/2025 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
SEC: S 45.83 2/22/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
Meet: M 45.83 2/22/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
Pool: P 45.61 3/18/2023 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
48.60 NC
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Spink, Camille Tennessee-SE 46.54 46.47 qNC
r:+0.67 10.38 22.16 (11.78)
34.41 (12.25) 46.47 (12.06)
2 Okaro, Eva FR Texas 46.49 47.09 qNC
r:+0.69 10.80 22.79 (11.99)
35.14 (12.35) 47.09 (11.95)
3 Vincent, Cadenc JR Alabama-SE 47.54 47.53 qNC
r:+0.67 10.94 22.99 (12.05)
35.28 (12.29) 47.53 (12.25)
4 De Villiers, Mi SR LSU-LA 48.03 47.74 qNC
r:+0.69 10.79 22.64 (11.85)
35.06 (12.42) 47.74 (12.68)
5 Klevanovich, Li GS Auburn-SE 47.82 47.92 qNC
r:+0.73 11.01 22.92 (11.91)
35.58 (12.66) 47.92 (12.34)
5 Gemmell, Erin M JR Texas 47.48 47.92 qNC
r:+0.73 11.07 23.09 (12.02)
35.54 (12.45) 47.92 (12.38)
7 Padar, Nikolett FR Texas 48.34 48.05 qNC
r:+0.69 11.08 23.06 (11.98)
35.64 (12.58) 48.05 (12.41)
8 Armen, Emily Tennessee-SE 47.81 48.19 qNC
r:+0.68 11.05 23.02 (11.97)
35.44 (12.42) 48.19 (12.75)
Men’s 100 Freestyle
Josh Liendo will swim his final SEC individual race Saturday evening, but he could have a battle on his hands in the men’s 100 free. Liendo, the three-time NCAA champion and one of only three swimmers ever under 40 seconds, took the third spot in the morning behind LSU’s Jere Hribar (41.16) and Tennessee’s Gui Caribe (40.91). Entering conference championship season, Caribe was the only swimmer to swim sub-41 this year.
There was a half-second gap from the top-three to the rest of the field, led by Nikoli Blackman of the Vols in 41.75. Florida’s Devin Dilger was the last man in at 41.90, just denying the two men who tied for ninth in 41.93, Texas’ Rafael Fente-Damers and Alabama’s Sean Niewold.
Event 37 Men 100 Yard Freestyle
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NCAA: N 39.83 3/29/2025 Jordan Crooks, Tennessee
SEC: S 39.83 3/29/2025 Jordan Crooks, Tennessee
Meet: M 40.45 2/22/2025 J. Liendo & J. Crooks, Flor & Tenn
Pool: P 40.91 11/22/2025Gui Caribe, Tennessee
42.55 NC
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Hribar, Jere JR LSU-LA 41.15 41.16 qNC
r:+0.72 9.29 19.82 (10.53)
30.54 (10.72) 41.16 (10.62)
2 Caribe, Gui C Tennessee-SE 40.91 41.20 qNC
r:+0.59 9.16 19.68 (10.52)
30.46 (10.78) 41.20 (10.74)
3 Liendo, Josh SR FLOR-FL 41.11 41.21 qNC
r:+0.65 9.33 19.85 (10.52)
30.72 (10.87) 41.21 (10.49)
4 Blackman, Nikol Tennessee-SE 41.89 41.75 qNC
r:+0.64 9.42 19.92 (10.50)
30.96 (11.04) 41.75 (10.79)
5 Painter, Alex J SO FLOR-FL 42.46 41.81 qNC
r:+0.60 9.26 19.98 (10.72)
30.89 (10.91) 41.81 (10.92)
6 Gould, Garrett SO Texas 42.02 41.86 qNC
r:+0.59 9.11 19.73 (10.62)
30.83 (11.10) 41.86 (11.03)
7 Nebrich, Luke SO Missouri-MV 41.63 41.87 qNC
r:+0.61 9.26 19.73 (10.47)
30.78 (11.05) 41.87 (11.09)
8 Dilger, Devin J SO FLOR-FL 42.45 41.90 qNC
r:+0.69 9.39 19.96 (10.57)
30.80 (10.84) 41.90 (11.10)
Women’s 200 Backstroke
Florida’s Catie Choate entered as the top seed in the 200 back by almost two seconds at 1:50.66, and she backed up that form with a strong prelims result. Choate went 1:50.85 to lead the way by more than a second into the championship heat, with Texas freshman Sara Rodrigues well clear of the rest of the field in second place at 1:51.95. Yet again, Texas will pile on points as Haley McDonald and Lillie Nesty secured top-eight qualifying results.
Event 38 Women 200 Yard Backstroke
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NCAA: N 1:46.82 3/22/2025 Claire Curzan, Virginia
SEC: S 1:47.11 3/22/2025 Bella Sims, Florida
Meet: M 1:48.06 2/22/2020 Rhyan White, Alabama
Pool: P 1:46.87 11/22/2024Claire M Curzan, Virginia
1:54.80 NC
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Choate, Catie G JR FLOR-FL 1:50.66 1:50.85 qNC
r:+0.66 25.84 53.56 (27.72)
1:22.06 (28.50) 1:50.85 (28.79)
2 Rodrigues, Sara FR Texas 1:52.57 1:51.95 qNC
r:+0.86 26.67 54.75 (28.08)
1:22.98 (28.23) 1:51.95 (28.97)
3 Riordan, Amy L SR South Carolina-S 1:51.78 1:52.60 qNC
r:+0.56 26.27 54.43 (28.16)
1:22.99 (28.56) 1:52.60 (29.61)
4 Rathwell, Regan Tennessee-SE 1:52.80 1:52.84 qNC
r:+0.57 26.50 54.84 (28.34)
1:23.79 (28.95) 1:52.84 (29.05)
5 McDonald, Haley FR Texas 1:53.15 1:52.94 qNC
r:+0.71 26.50 55.16 (28.66)
1:24.07 (28.91) 1:52.94 (28.87)
6 Jones, Emily SR Alabama-SE 1:53.26 1:52.98 qNC
r:+0.57 26.23 55.02 (28.79)
1:24.16 (29.14) 1:52.98 (28.82)
7 Nesty, Lillian SO Texas 1:52.81 1:53.21 qNC
r:+0.78 26.99 55.19 (28.20)
1:24.11 (28.92) 1:53.21 (29.10)
8 Stephens, Lexi Tennessee-SE 1:54.65 1:53.55 qNC
r:+0.69 26.81 55.02 (28.21)
1:23.95 (28.93) 1:53.55 (29.60)
Men’s 200 Backstroke
Hubert Kos takes on the second half of his ambitious double in the 200 back after going 1:38.18 for the second-quickest time in prelims. Kos won the NCAA title last season in 1:34.21, breaking the existing NCAA and U.S. Open records by more than a second, and since then, he has cemented his dominance over the 200 back in meters with a long course world title and short course world record.
Alabama’s Tommy Hagar was just ahead of Kos in the morning with his time of 1:37.92, surpassing Kos as the top swimmer in the country thus far in the 2025-26 season. However, much swifter performances are expected in the evening session. A pair of swimmers better known for the sprint backstroke abilities, Florida’s Jonny Marshall (1:38.35) and Texas’ Will Modglin (1:39.16), got into the final in the third and fifth positions, respectively.
Event 39 Men 200 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
NCAA: N 1:34.21 3/29/2025 Hubert Kos, Texas
SEC: S 1:34.21 3/29/2025 Hubert Kos, Texas
Meet: M 1:35.85 2/22/2025 Jonny Marshall, Florida
Pool: P 1:37.87 12/5/2013 Arkady Vyatchanin, NY Aquatics
1:42.14 NC
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Hagar, Tommy E JR Alabama-SE 1:39.03 1:37.92 qNC
r:+0.64 22.97 47.84 (24.87)
1:12.44 (24.60) 1:37.92 (25.48)
2 Kos, Hubert SR Texas 1:38.14 1:38.18 qNC
r:+0.69 23.18 48.25 (25.07)
1:13.08 (24.83) 1:38.18 (25.10)
3 Marshall, Jonny JR FLOR-FL 1:39.04 1:38.35 qNC
r:+0.72 22.56 46.79 (24.23)
1:12.01 (25.22) 1:38.35 (26.34)
4 Simons, Nick F Tennessee-SE 1:40.14 1:39.07 qNC
r:+0.67 22.60 47.54 (24.94)
1:13.17 (25.63) 1:39.07 (25.90)
5 Modglin, Will C JR Texas 1:39.41 1:39.16 qNC
r:+0.86 22.65 47.61 (24.96)
1:13.24 (25.63) 1:39.16 (25.92)
6 Witmer, Cole C SO Alabama-SE 1:41.66 1:39.64 qNC
r:+0.78 23.71 48.72 (25.01)
1:14.07 (25.35) 1:39.64 (25.57)
7 Norman, Aiden R SO FLOR-FL 1:40.21 1:39.96 qNC
r:+0.73 23.14 48.13 (24.99)
1:13.71 (25.58) 1:39.96 (26.25)
8 Peck, Kyle SO Texas 1:40.80 1:40.10 qNC
r:+0.61 23.85 49.00 (25.15)
1:14.63 (25.63) 1:40.10 (25.47)
