Gamecocks Conclude Day 2 of SEC Women's Championships
Smith (50 free) and 200 free relay swim second-fastest times in program history in Thursday night finals
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sophomore Janie Smith shined for South Carolina on day two of the 2021 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships. The Charlotte, N.C., native swam the second fastest 50 free (22.38) in school history in heat one of the finals tonight at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens.
Smith finished 18th in the event, becoming the first individual point scorer for the Gamecocks at this year’s conference meet. She advanced to the finals with a previous career-best time of 22.53 in the 50 free prelims this morning.
The 200 free relay team of freshman Aubrey Chandler (23.05), Smith (21.88), junior Emma Walker (22.81) and junior Mari Kraus also swam the second-fastest time in program history (1:30.20) en route to finishing eighth.
South Carolina is 11th in the team standings with 134 points through seven events.
Day three of swimming begins at 10 a.m. ET on Friday with the prelims for the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breaststroke, and 100 back. The finals of the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breaststroke, 100 back and the 400 medley relay are set to begin at 6 p.m. ET. Both sessions can be viewed on SEC Network+.
On the diving side at Mizzou Aquatic Center, the Gamecocks did not have a finalist in the women’s 3-meter or the men’s 1-meter. Sophomore Mathilda Roxne (262.45) paced the trio of Carolina women competing, finishing 16th. Sophomore Alex Claus, the lone male competitor for the Gamecocks, finished 21st in the 1-meter with a six-dive score of 281.35.
Prelims for the women’s platform begin at noon ET on Friday with the men’s 3-meter prelims following at 4 p.m. SEC Network+ will carry a live broadcast of each session.
The men’s championship will also be hosted by Missouri next week (Feb. 23-26). This marks the first time in 35 years the SEC Championships are being held in separate venues. In 1986, the women’s swimming and diving championship was held in Knoxville, Tenn. and the men’s championship in Baton Rouge, La.
2021 Women’s SEC Swimming and Diving Championship Gamecock Results
200 Medley Relay
8. Bella Pantano (backstroke, 25.67), Taylor Steele (breaststroke, 27.19), Janie Smith (fly, 23.24), Emma Walker (free, 22.92) – 1:39:02 (third-fastest all-time at Carolina)
800 Free Relay
11. Emma Alexander (1:48.30), Mari Kraus (1:47.75), Riley Parker (1:48.09), Kaitlyn Porter (1:50.13) – 7:14.27 (ninth-fastest all-time at Carolina)
200 IM
46. Emily Hormanski – 2:02.31
52. Ellie Masterson – 2:02.89
54. Kaitlyn Porter – 2:03.31
55. Sammie Ai – 2:03.34
59. Taylor Steele – 2:04.49
62. Caroline Spence – 2:05.06
67. Meredith Berglund – 2:09.45
50 Free
18. Janie Smith – 22.53p, 22.38f (second-fastest all-time at Carolina)
35. Aubrey Chandler – 23.08
T36. Emma Walker – 23.13
39. Mari Kraus – 23.14
44. Olivia McPherson – 23.25
T50. Emma Alexander – 23.42
T50. Danielle Doennebrink – 23.42
64. Riley Parker – 23.82
67. Megan Armstrong – 23.91
72. Erynn Black – 24.25
73. Bella Pantano – 24.32
200 Free Relay
8. Aubrey Chandler (23.05), Janie Smith (21.88), Emma Walker (22.81), Mari Kraus (22.46) – 1:30.20 (second-fastest all-time at Carolina)
Women’s 1-meter diving (six dives)
18. Yu Qian Goh (240.00)
27. Mathilda Roxne (224.40)
35. Bria Diorio (176.95)
Men’s 1-meter diving (six dives)
21. Alex Claus (281.35)
Women’s 3-meter diving (six dives)
16. Mathilda Roxne (262.45)
30. Yu Qian Goh (209.10)
33. Bria Diorio (181.95)
2021 Women’s SEC Swimming and Diving Team Standings
1. Florida – 393
2. Georgia – 362
3. Alabama – 345
4. Tennessee – 326
5. Kentucky – 318
6. Texas A&M – 253
7. Arkansas – 249
8. Missouri – 236
9. LSU – 167
10. Auburn – 159
11. South Carolina – 134
12. Vanderbilt – 94
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