Goldfaden, Roth Capture First-Career SEC Titles
Itay Goldfaden (100 breast) and Marissa Roth (platform) became the third and fourth Gamecocks, respectively, to win individual SEC Championships.
ATHENS, Ga.— South Carolina junior Itay Goldfaden became the third Gamecocks swimmer this week to capture an individual Southeastern Conference Championship in the Gabrielsen Natatorium, swimming a 51.72 to finish atop the men’s 100 breaststroke A-final. The win was followed up with Marissa Roth capturing the women’s platform diving title with a score of 304.80 for her first-career podium finish at the SEC Championships.
Goldfaden, a native of Bat Hefer, Israel and an All-American in the 100 breast last season, went 51.99 to qualify third during prelims. Goldfaden jumped out in his second swim with a 23.94 in his first 50 split. The Gamecocks’ junior closed out his 51.72, just .14 off of record pace, to capture his first-career SEC Championship.
Roth took her first four attempts off the 10-meter, scoring a 246.00 to put her at the top of the leaderboard with a single dive remaining. The fifth-year senior then closed the night with a back 2 1/2 somersault tuck off of the seven-meter platform, clinching the win with a 58.80 from the judges on her final dive. The win was her first-career podium finish and the just the second women’s platform diving championship in Carolina history.
Fynn Minuth finished his night on the podium for the second time this week, going 1:41.49 to finish third in the men’s 200 butterfly.
Carolina had its strongest prelim session of the meet with 11 swimmers qualifying for second swims as well as a third-place finish from Marissa Roth to qualify for the platform finals.
Marissa Delgado lowered her own Gamecocks’ school record in the 200 fly at 1:56.61 and followed up with an even better 1:56.41 in her final swim for Carolina.
Melinda Novoszath followed up her morning swim by breaking Delgado’s mark in the 200 fly with a 1:56.28 to win the B-final.
Ben Fenwick posted a 1:46.53 during prelims of the men’s 200 fly to qualify for the C-final while Will Riggs went 1:45.24 to qualify for the B-final.
After setting a new school record during a time trial (46.75) in the men’s 100 back earlier this week, Caleb Tosh followed up a 47.69 during prelims with a 47.06 to top the C-final. Kevin Liu went 47.35 in the C-final to finish fifth in his second swim.
Albury Higgs finished her second swim just .21 off of record pace, going 1:00.30 for a third-place finish in the women’s 100 breast B-final. Lionel Khoo swam a 51.85 in the 100 breast on the men’s side, finishing first in the B-final.
The Gamecocks’ men’s 400 medley relay team of Liu, Goldfaden, Khoo, and Tosh finished the night with a school record 3:08.71.
Top Gamecock Finishes:
| NAME | EVENT | TIME/SCORE |
| Marissa Roth | Platform (W) | 304.80, 1st |
| Itay Goldfaden | 100 Breast (M) | 51.72, 1st |
| Marissa Delgado | 200 Fly (W) | 1:56.41, 11th |
| Hallie Kinsey | 200 Fly (W) | 1:57.16p, 16th |
| Melinda Novoszath | 200 Fly (W) | *1:56.28, 9th |
| Fynn Minuth | 200 Fly (M) | 1:41.49, 3rd |
| Will Riggs | 200 Fly (M) | 1:45.24p, 14th |
| Ben Fenwick | 200 Fly (M) | 1:46.53p, 23rd |
| Emily Cornell | 100 Back (W) | 53.52p, 22nd |
| Caleb Tosh | 100 Back (M) | 47.06, 17th |
| Kevin Liu | 100 Back (M) | 47.35, 21st |
| Albury Higgs | 100 Breast (W) | 1:00.30, 11th |
| Lionel Khoo | 100 Breast (M) | 51.85, 9th |
*= Carolina school record
p= prelim swim
UP NEXT
The SEC Championships will conclude on Saturday with prelims beginning at 10 a.m., followed by the fifth and final night session at 6 p.m.
Day Five Schedule of Events:
1650 Free
200 Back
200 Breast
Men’s Platform
400 Freestyle Relay
For more swimming updates, follow South Carolina Swimming and Diving on Twitter at @GamecockSwim.
