Gamecocks Close Week With Record Four Individual SEC Champions
Carolina tied a program record with four individual SEC Champions while setting a total of 14 school records.
ATHENS, Ga.— South Carolina concluded the SEC Championships with another podium finish as Rafael Davila went 14:55.89 to finish sixth in the men’s 1650 freestyle on Saturday in the Gabrielsen Natatorium. The Gamecocks finished the week with a program record four individual championships and saw four new school records set on the final day of competition.
Carolina’s four individual conference championships this week is tied for the most titles at the SEC Championships in program history (South Carolina had four champions in 2017). The Gamecocks also set a total of 14 school records during the five-day meet.
Albury Higgs finished just .21 shy of a podium finish in the women’s 200 breaststroke on the final night, setting a new Gamecocks record with a 2:07.40 in the A-final.
Davila took 23.74 seconds off of his top time this season, swimming a 54.70 over the final 100 to close out the third heat.
The Gamecocks closed the final night of the meet with the women’s 400 relay team of Barksdale, Lappin, Cornell and Sanderson cutting over three seconds off of the Carolina record, finishing at 3:15.64. The men’s 400 free relay team followed suit as Tosh, Minuth, Ross and Costin clocked a 2:55.16 to close the meet for South Carolina.
Carolina’s four individual conference championships is tied for the most titles at the SEC Championships in program history (South Carolina also had four champions in 2017).
Kate Sanderson finished 11th in the women’s 1650 freestyle with a season-best 16:14.63, just .59 shy of a school record. Cody Bekemeyer finished sixth in the men’s 1650, finishing his heat at a season-best 14:55.89.
The Gamecocks finished the meet with another strong showing in prelims, setting school records through the first three events of the morning session. Emily Cornell clocked a record 1:52.93 in heat four of the women’s 200 backstroke to qualify for the A-final.
Kevin Liu broke Bryce Kananowicz’s record in the men’s 200 breast, finishing his prelim heat at 1:42.31.
Christina Lappin dropped almost a full second off of her 100 free, swimming a school record 48.95 to qualify for the b-final.
Emma Barksdale put up a 2:08.43 in heat five of the women’s 200 breaststroke which was followed by a 2:09.03 from Higgs in the final heat, each good enough for A-final qualifying position.
Lionel Khoo made it into the men’s 200 breast C-final with a 1:57.34.
Top Gamecock Finishes:
| NAME | EVENT | TIME |
| Emily Cornell | 200 Back (W) | *1:52.93p, 8th |
| Kevin Liu | 200 Back (M) | *1:42.28, 4th |
| Christina Lappin | 100 Free (W) | *48.95p, 16th |
| Emma Barksdale | 200 Breast (W) | 2:08.43p |
| Albury Higgs | 200 Breast (W) | *2:07.40, 4th |
| Lionel Khoo | 200 Breast (M) | 1:55.35, 17th |
| Kate Sanderson | 1650 Free (W) | 16:14.63, 11th |
| Cody Bekemeyer | 1650 Free (M) | 14:51.98, 3rd |
| Rafael Davila | 1650 Free (M) | 14:55.89, 6th |
| Tosh, Minuth, Ross, Costin | 400 FR (M) | 2:55.16, |
| Lappin, Barksdale, Cornell, Kinsey | 400 FR (W) | 3:15.64, 7th |
*= Carolina school record
p= prelim swim
UP NEXT
South Carolina divers will turn their attention to the NCAA Zone B Championships in Auburn, Ala., from March 11-13. Select swimmers and divers will compete in the CSCAA Invite in Cleveland, Ohio from March 14-16.
Qualifying student-athletes will compete in the 2019 Men’s and Women’s NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, from March 20-23 and March 27-30, respectively.
For more swimming updates, follow South Carolina Swimming and Diving on Twitter at @GamecockSwim.
