Feb. 20, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Freshman diver Taryn Zack made her mark on the SEC Championship on Wednesday, finishing fifth in the one-meter diving event, collecting Carolina’s top finish of the day. The Gamecock swimmers also began championship action on Wednesday, competing in the 200 medley and 800-yard freestyle relay events.
Following the opening day of competition, Auburn University leads on the men’s side with a total of 126 points, followed by LSU and Tennessee tied for second with 86 points. South Carolina is currently seventh with 52 points. Florida leads on the women’s side with 89, followed by Tennessee and LSU with 79 points. The Gamecock women are also ranked seventh following Wednesday’s events with 65 points.
Zack tallied 301.80 points in the finals, finishing just shy of first-place competitor Rachel Ware from LSU who tallied 315.55 to win the event. Ware was the top seed coming into the final. Fellow Gamecock freshman Allison Barr also captured a top-ten finish in the one-meter, posting a total of 264.50 in Wednesday morning’s preliminary round. The top eight divers following preliminary competition advanced to the finals.
On the men’s side, junior David Ovelson posted the top mark for the Gamecocks, finishing 11th with a total of 327.10. Classmate Cory Christian finished 18th, collecting 292.15 points during preliminary competition.
“I was very pleased with the way our team competed today,” head diving coach Todd Sherritt said. “Taryn definitely made an impact today. She competed consistent throughout the entire event and finished strong. Allison also dove well, finishing 10th and Sarah Mory and Morgan Ricke also contributed strong performances for our team.”
Carolina’s top swimming finish came in the women’s 800-yard freestyle relay, as the team of senior Christy Williams, freshman Christine Thompson, junior Amanda Dunnigan and freshman Claire Thompson finished sixth with a time of 7:19.20.
Competition continues at the SEC Championship on Thursday with preliminary rounds of the 500-yard freestyle relay beginning at 11 a.m. ET.
