The Kentucky women’s swimming and diving team had an impressive showing on the third night of the 2023 SEC Championships at the Rec Center Natatorium. With senior Lauren Poole winning her second medal in as many nights, the team climbed from sixth to third place with a score of 452.
In the women’s 400 IM, Kentucky had six Wildcats in the top-two final heats, and Poole secured silver with a time of 4:04.62 for the third straight year. Gillian Davey also swam in the “A-Final” and finished sixth with a time of 4:09.21. Meanwhile, Anna Havens Rice, Denise Phelan, and Caroline Benda picked up valuable points in the “B-Final,” giving the Wildcats five swimmers in the top-15.
The men’s team also made strides and is currently in ninth place with 162 points, just four and a half points out of eighth place. Freshman Ryan Merani continued his impressive run by winning the “B final” of the 400 IM with a program record swim of 3:42.19. Zane Rosely was UK’s lone “A-final” participant and placed eighth, while Levi Sandidge achieved a personal best of 3:46.79 to move into eighth place on the UK all-time top 10.
In the women’s 200 freestyle “A-final,” Izzy Gati and Kaitlynn Wheeler placed seventh and eighth, respectively, with Gati posting a swim of 1:44.97, and Wheeler finishing with a personal best of 1:45.18 in her second “A-final” in as many nights. Meanwhile, Max Berg raced to a 1:33.00 in the men’s 200 freestyle, finishing fourth in the first SEC “A-final” of his career.
The 2023 SEC Championships will resume on the penultimate day of competition with events such as the 200 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, women’s platform diving, and the 400 MR to be contested. With the Kentucky women’s team climbing to third place and the men’s team making up ground, fans can look forward to an exciting finish to the championships.
Medal Count: 2
Bronze (1)
- Lauren Poole, Women’s 200 IM (1:55.12)
Silver (1)
- Lauren Poole, Women’s 400 IM (4:04.62)
UK School Record Count: 2
- Max Berg, Men’s 200 Free (1:32.67)
- Ryan Merani, Men’s 400 IM (3:42.19)
Personal Best Count: 44