Feb. 17, 2006
Knoxville, Tenn. – The South Carolina’s women team finished the day sixth with 301 points and the men’s team eighth with 214 points on their third day of the swimming and diving SEC Championships. The women are 78 points behind Tennessee while the men are 82 points behind Kentucky.
On the South Carolina’s men’s side, the 200-freestyle showcased Junior Colby Mack who piloted Dan White and Tamas Bathazi through the finals. Mack finished 9th with a personal-best provisional time of 1:37.37, White placed 10th with a time of 1:38.66 and Bathazi took 14th (1:38.95).
Ian Balman represented South Carolina on the Platform with a score of 220.65. He placed 13th to earn the men’s team 7 points. The men’s diving team has been a large contributor to the men’s total score.
“Colby Mack broke his personal best time in the 200-freestyle and placed respectively,” said head coach Don Gibb. “Justin Kata also came out strong today with a personal best in the 100-breaststroke. Ian Balman did well all-around in this meet. He is going out great as a senior.”
Freshman, Amanda Dunnigan had a great 400-IM finals race placing 7th with a provisional time of 4:19.19. She took almost a whole second off her preliminary time in the finals and held her seventh place finish.
“Amanda Dunnigan did great racing her best time in preliminaries and then again in finals. She is a strong freshman and will continue to improve,” said head coach Don Gibb. “Lindsey Tiberio performed great in her first SEC meet. She will be seeing the same girls again in the NCAA Championships and should do well. Christy Williams also swam respectively in the 100-fly and 100-backstroke. “
The women’s 100-yard breaststroke was the strongest event for the Gamecock’s women this far on the swimming side, featuring three swimmers led by junior Lindsey Tiberio in 5th place that qualified as a provisional and Mandee Cregar with a personal-best time of 1:04.68.
“This is the biggest meet I have ever competed in,” said Lindsey Tiberio. “The SEC is a great conference. I would have liked to raced for a better time today but I am happy with my place.”
Men’s Finals
400-IM
Sophomore, Kyle Cormier (15th) 3:57.00
200-Freestyle
Junior, Colby Mack (9th) 1:37.37 – provisional
Sophomore, Dan White (10th) 1:38.66
Senior, Tamas Bathazi (14th) 1:38.95
100-Breaststroke
Senior, Justin Kata (18th) 57.35
400-Medley Relay
Gargill, Kata, Bathazi, White, (8th), 3:26.01
Platform
Ian Balman, (13th), 220.65
Women’s Finals
400-IM
Freshman, Amanda Dunnigan, (7th), 4:19,19, provisional
100-Butterfly
Sophomore, Christy Williams, (11th), 54.84, – provisional
100-Breaststroke
Junior, Lindsey Tiberio, (5th), 1:02.52,- provisional
Sophomore, Mandee Cregar (18th), 1:04.88, season best time
100-Backstroke
Sophomore, Christy Williams, (12th), 57.19
400 Medley Relay
Williams, Tiberio, Fiorentino, Skaggs, (6th), 3:48.01
Team Standings Day 3
Men Place Team Score
1. Auburn University 748
2. University of Florida 659
3. University of Georgia 561
4. University of Tennessee 545
T5. Louisiana State University 313
T5. University of Alabama 313
5. University of Kentucky 296
6. University of South Carolina 214
Women Places Teams Scores
1. University of Georgia 729
2. Auburn University 693
3. University of Florida 466
4. University of Kentucky 412
5. University of Tennessee 379
6. University of South Carolina 301
7. University of Alabama 220
8. Louisiana State University 201
9. University of Arkansas 101
The Gamecocks return to action for the fourth day of the Championships with preliminaries beginning at 10 a.m. followed by finals at 6 p.m. Live scoring is available at utsports.com.
