Steele Paces Gamecocks on Day 3 of Women's SECs
Three of Carolina's four finalists swam new PRs Friday in Athens
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina is 11th with 201 team points at the 2021 SEC Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships after three days of competition. The Gamecocks had four individual finalists on Friday night that scored points.
Sophomore Taylor Steele finished 16th in the 100 breast, scoring a team-high 11 points. The Cleveland, Ohio, native swam a season-best time of 1:00.54 in the b-final. She swam 1:00.74 in the prelims this morning. Steele owns the second-fastest 100 breast time in program history at 59.72, which put her in the A-final of last year’s SEC Championship where she would eventually finish fourth.
Fellow sophomore Janie Smith continued her strong showing advancing to the C-final of the 100 fly. The Charlotte, N.C., native swam a new PR of 53.61 (third-fastest all-time at Carolina) in the prelims. She went 53.65 in the finals to take 20th.
The Gamecocks had two C-finalsts in the 100 back in junior Mari Kraus and freshman Riley Parker. Kraus finished 21st setting a new PR with a time of 53.62 (second-fastest all-time at Carolina). Parker finished 23rd swimming a career-best time of 53.72 (third-fastest all-time at Carolina) in the prelims.
South Carolina concluded day three in the pool at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens with the 400 medley relay. Parker (back, 54.56), Steele (breast, 59.93), Smith (fly, 54.03) and Kraus (free, 49.56) took 10th with a time of 3:38.03, the third-best in program history.
Prelims for the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and 1650 free start at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday with finals to follow on the SEC Network+.
The Gamecocks did not have any finalists on day three of the diving portion of the conference meet at Mizzou Aquatic Center. Freshman Bria Diorio was 28th in the platform with a five-dive score of 141.20. Junior Alex Claus was 21st in the men’s 3-meter with a six-dive score of 287.80.
Women’s diving has concluded. The men’s platform prelims start at noon ET with finals following at 2:20 p.m.
NOTE: 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)
400 IM
37. Ellie Masterson – 4:21.96
100 Fly
20. Janie Smith – 53.61p (third-fastest all-time at Carolina), 53.65f
29. Emily Horomanski – 54.69
30. Emma Otten – 54.73
31. Kaitlyn Porter – 54.92
35. Carolina Spence – 55.22
39. Meredith Berglund – 55.83
40. Danielle Doennebrink – 55.86
47. Aubrey Chandler – 57.90
200 Free
34. Emma Alexander – 1:48.98
100 Breast
16. Taylor Steele – 1:00.74p, 1:00.54f
40. Sammie Ai – 1:03.23
43. Olivia McPherson – 1:03.61
100 Back
21. Mari Kraus – 53.73p, 53.62f (second-fastest all-time at Carolina)
23. Riley Parker – 53.72p (third-fastest all-time at Carolina), 53.88f
27. Megan Armstrong – 54.30
28. Bella Pantano – 54.44
29. Emma Otten – 54.45
34. Emma Walker – 54.95
48. Erynn Black – 55.97
400 Medley Relay
10. Riley Parker (backstroke, 54.56), Taylor Steele (breaststroke, 59.93), Janie Smith (fly, 54.03), Mari Kraus (free, 49.56) – 3:38.08 (third-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)
Women’s Platform (five dives)
28. Bria Diorio (141.20)
Men’s 3-meter diving (six dives)
21. Alex Claus (287.80)
2021 Women’s SEC Swimming and Diving Team Standings
1. Florida – 779
2. Kentucky – 771
3. Alabama – 684
4. Georgia – 670
5. Texas A&M – 634
6. Tennessee – 633
7. Arkansas – 492
8. Missouri – 432.50
9. Auburn – 384
10. LSU – 315.50
11. South Carolina – 201
12. Vanderbilt – 124
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