Vazquez Earns Bronze, Gamecocks Set Three School Records
Knoxville, Tenn. – South Carolina diver Manny Vazquez Bas won the bronze medal of platform diving on the fourth day of the SEC Championships. He scored a 403.95, breaking the previous school record of 386.05 that was placed by Jordan Groto in 2017.
Vazquez placed fifth in the prelims with a score of 383.25 to secure his spot in the finals. Throughout the six finals dives, Vazquez hung near the middle of the pack, trading places for third and fourth with Danny Zhang of Kentucky.
Going into the final dive, Zhang was ahead of Vazquez by seven points. The two divers both were performing a back two-and-a-half somersault one-and-a-half twist pike for their final dives. Zhang went first, scoring a 56, meaning Vazquez needed at least a 63 to medal.
Vazquez didn’t shy down from the challenge and completed the event with a 72-point dive to secure third place overall and set the new school record.
Two Gamecock swimmers also placed new school records, both of them beating their own.
Freshman Michael Laitarovsky broke his own record in the 100 back with a prelim time of 46.17, shaving over half a second off his previous record of 46.71 set during the Tennessee Invitaitonal in November 2021.
Sophomore Bella Pantano also broke her own record in the 100 back. She swam a 53.32 leadoff split in the women’s 400 medley relay to break her own record by just one one hundredth of a second.
The Gamecocks saw their most successful day of the championships thus far, having two swimmers qualify for A-finals, two for B-finals, and six for C-finals.
The highest placement of the day went to sophomore Melinda Novoszath who earned a new personal best time in the 200 fly with a 1:56.15, which was good for seventh place overall.
The SEC Championships will conclude on Saturday with the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, women’s platform diving, and the 400 free relay.
For all the latest South Carolina swimming and diving information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockSwim).
Results
Women’s 200 fly
Prelims
7. M. Novoszath – 1:56.50
15. Pelzek – 1:57.97
24. Horomanski – 1:59.59
31. Toh – 2:00.04
35. Collins – 2:00.84
Finals
7. M. Novoszath – 1:56.15
15. Pelzek – 1:57.40
23. Horomanski – 1:58.90
Men’s 200 fly
Prelims
13. Daniels – 1:45.28
18. DeVore – 1:45.44
32. Yip – 1:47.95
37. Ratzlaff – 1:48.84
Finals
16. Daniels – 1:45.65
22. DeVore – 1:45.72
Women’s 100 back
Prelims
T-19. Pantano – 53.51
21. Kraus – 53.57
30. Parker – 54.59
Finals
20. Pantano – 53.38
22. Kraus – 53.54
Men’s 100 back
Prelims
6. Laitarovsky – 46.17 (school record)
24. Hanke – 48.53
Finals
8. Laitarovsky – 46.34
24. Hanke – 48.71
Women’s 100 breast
Prelims
26. Steele – 1:01.86
32. Johnson – 1:02.39
Men’s 100 breast
Prelims
20. Massey – 53.30
25. Kerns – 54.74
26. West – 54.78
29. Wade – 55.69
Finals
19. Massey – 53.06
Men’s Platform Diving
Prelims
5. Vazquez – 383.25
20. Claus – 261.95
Finals
3. Vazquez – 403.95 (school record)
Women’s 400 Medley Relay
9. South Carolina (Pantano, Steele, Toh, Smith) – 3:34.39
Men’s 400 Medley Relay
9. South Carolina (Laitarovsky, Massey, DeVore, Shperkin) – 3:11.14
