Pelzek Captures Silver on Fifth Day of SECs
Auburn, Ala. – South Carolina swimming junior Greta Pelzek became the team’s latest SEC medalist on Friday, taking silver in the 200 fly. The junior was joined in the finals by 15 other Gamecocks, making Friday the team’s most successful day of the SEC Championships thus far.
Pelzek earned her spot in the 200 fly finals by ripping off a new personal best time of 1:54.41 to earn a spot in the A-finals as the second seed in the event. In the finals, Pelzek dropped time once again, swimming a new school record of 1:53.43 to take silver in the event. The previous record of 1:54.12 was set by Hallie Kinsey in 2020. Pelzek’s silver medal is the first of her career and is the team’s first medal of the meet.
Also in the 200 fly finals was Joradan Agliano, Breckin Gormley, and Nicholle Toh. Agliano and Gormley both competed in the B-finals with Agliano winning the heat in the final five yards with a time of 1:56.31 to place ninth overall. Gormley and Toh placed 15th and 18th respectively.
For the men, graduate Luke DeVore was the lone 200 fly finalist. He swam a 1:45.10 to place sixth in his heat and 22nd overall.
The women’s 100 back was also loaded with Gamecocks with three in the C-final and two in the B-final. In the C-final, Bella Pantano, Faith Khoo and Pia Murray all competed with the trio accounting for 12 additional points for the team.
In the B-final, Dylan Scholes finished with a 53.09 in 13th while Amy Riordan finished with a new school record of 52.27 to place 13th. Riordan had previously set the record herself during the prelims of the event with a 52.63.
Michael Laitarovsky and Ryan Hufford both advanced to the finals of the 100 back where they placed 12th and 22nd, Laitarovsky with a 46.49 and Hufford with a 47.01.
In the men’s 100 breast, Liam Kerns competed in the C-final with Linus Kahl in the B-final. Kerns swam a 53.40 to place second in his heat and 18th overall while Kahl swam a 52.39, also placing second in his heat and 10th overall. Kahl’s time makes him the fourth fastest 100 breast swimmer in program history.
Riordan, Lien Yu, Pelzek, and Dylan Scholes teamed up for the 400 medley relay where they placed seventh overall with a 3:33.77. Their time was just .02 off from the program record. Riordan’s leadoff 100 back split was also a new school record of 52.05, giving her the new program record for the third time in one day.
For the men, Laitarovsky, Daniel West, Kahl, and Mark Shperkin combined for a 3:08.89 to finish in ninth place. Their time makes them the fourth fastest team in program history.
The Gamecocks placed two finalists in the men’s platform consolation finals with freshman Max Spencer and sophomore Charley Bayer both advancing. Spencer ended the event in 11th place with a 329.95 with Bayer in 16th with a 265.95.
Through the fifth night of finals, the Gamecock men are in ninth place with 324 points while the women are in seventh place with 459 points.
The SEC Championships will conclude on Saturday with women’s platform diving, the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 400 free relay. Swim prelims will begin at 10:30am ET with diving prelims at 12:30pm ET. The timed finals of the 1650 free will begin at 3:30pm with other finals events starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. Live results and streaming link can be found here.
For all the latest South Carolina swimming and diving information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockSwmDive).
Results
Men’s Platform
B-Finals
11 – Spencer – 329.95
16 – Bayer – 265.95
Prelims
9 – Spencer – 329.05
14 – Bayer – 278.15
25 – Hoard – 190.45
Women’s 200 Fly
2 – Pelzek – 1:53.43
9 – Agliano – 1:56.31
15 – Gormley – 1:57.32
18 – Toh – 1:57.32
Men’s 200 Fly
22 – DeVore – 1:45.10
Women’s 100 Back
13 – Riordan – 5.27
16 – Scholes 53.09
19 – Pantano – 53.07
20 – Murray – 53.08
24 – Khoo – 53.83
Men’s 100 Back
12 – Laitarovsky – 46.49
22 – Hufford – 47.01
Men’s 100 Breast
10 – Kahl – 52.39
18 – Kerns – 53.40
Women’s 400 Medley Relay
7 – Riordan, Yu, Pelzek, Scholes – 3:33.77
Men’s 400 Medley Relay
9 – Laitarovsky, West, Kahl, Shperkin – 3:08.89
