Michael Covert
- position Backstroke/IM
- class Freshman
- Hometown Chester, Va.
- High school Exodus Christian School
- position Backstroke/IM
- class Freshman
- Hometown Chester, Va.
- High school Exodus Christian School
Michael Covert Bio
IN THE RECORD BOOK
- 4th – 100 Backstroke
- 7th – 200 Backstroke
- 6th, 7th – 200 Freestyle Relay
- 8th – 200 Medley Relay
2015 (SENIOR)
- Primarily competed in the backstroke
- Just missed finals in the 100 backstroke finishing 25th with a season best time of 48.42 at the SEC Championships
- Finished 34th in the 200 backstroke (1:46.66) and 42nd in the 100 butterfly (49.27) with season best times in both events at the SEC Championships
- Finished sixth overall in the finals of the 50 freestyle (20.88) at the Virginia Tech Invitational, also placed ninth in the 100 (51.15) and 200 backstroke (1:46.86)
- Finished second in both the 100 (50.41) and 200 backstroke (1:50.71) against Kentucky
- Finished second in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.14 and second in the 200 backstroke with at time of 1:51.24 against Queens and Wingate
- Placed in the top three 10 times throughout the season
2014 (JUNIOR)
- One of the Gamecocks top backstrokers
- Finished 27th at the SEC Championships in both the 100 and 200 backstroke, clocking in with NCAA `B’ cuts in both at 48.31 and 1:46.03, respectively
- Also swam the 50 freestyle, finishing 44th at 20.62
- Won the 200 backstroke at Duke with a time of 1:51.26
- Claimed the top spot at ECU in the 100 backstroke (51.21)
- Picked up wins in the 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly against College of Charleston
- Earned six wins on the season and placed in the top three 13 times
2013 (SOPHOMORE)
- One of the Gamecocks’ top backstrokers
- Scored points for South Carolina at the SEC Championships in the 100 backstroke with a 21st-place finish in a time of 48.94
- Narrowly missed scoring in the 50 freestyle (27th) and the 200 backstroke (25th) at the SEC Championships
- Time of 48.85 in the 100 backstroke preliminary at the SEC Championships ranks fourth all-time at South Carolina
- Posted the team’s fastest time of the season in the 200 backstroke with a mark of 1:47.73 at the SEC Championships
- Also ranked in the top five times on the team in the 50 freestyle (third), 100 backstroke (second) and 200 butterfly (fifth)
- Won two individual races on the season, with both occurring against College of Charleston in the 100 and 200 butterfly
- Swam the third leg of the 200 freestyle relay at the SEC Championships to help the team swim a school-record time of 1:18.88
- Was a part of four relay wins during the regular season, with two coming in the 200 freestyle relay and two in the 400 freestyle relay
2012 (FRESHMAN)
- Among Gamecocks’ top newcomers
- Won two races on the season in the 200 backstroke, claiming first against Georgia Tech and in a tri-meet against Duke and Queens
- Narrowly missed making the consolation finals in the 200 backstroke at the SEC Championships, placing 17th in the prelims with a career best time of 1:48.10
- Time was the second best on the team this season in the event
- Had third best time on the team in the 100 backstroke with a 49.92 at the SEC Championships…Swam on the 800 freestyle relay team at the SEC Championships that recorded a NCAA B cut time of 6:32.83
- Also swam the 200 freestyle, 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 IM.
PRE COLLEGE
- Member of the Quest Swimming club team
- Named team captain
- Helped lead Quest to a second place finish at the Virginia Senior Championships during senior year, which was the best finish in club history.
PERSONAL
- Full name is Michael Knox Covert
- Born July 9, 1992
- Parents are Rory and Rutn Covert
- Has two brothers, John and Stephen, and one sister, Rachel
- Chose South Carolina because of its coaching staff
- Majoring in retail management.
Covert’s Top Times | ||||
Event | Time | Date | Meet | Location |
50 Freestyle | 20.38 | 2/20/13 | SEC Championships | College Station, Texas |
100 Freestyle
46.05#
1/27/12
East Carolina
Columbia, S.C.
200 Freestyle
1:40.80
11/16/12
Virginia Tech Invitational
Christiansburg, Va.
100 Backstroke
48.31
2/21/14
SEC Championships
Athens, Ga.
200 Backstroke
1:46.03
2/22/14
SEC Championships
Athens, Ga.
100 Breaststroke
58.54
1/25/13
College of Charleston/Queens/Wingate
Columbia, S.C.
100 Butterfly
49.27
2/19/15
SEC Championships
Auburn, Ala.
200 Butterfly
1:52.16
2/18/12
SEC Championships
Knoxville, Tenn.
200 IM
1:55.58
1/20/12
Georgia
Athens, Ga.
# = Leadoff Split/Split