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Michael Covert

  • position Backstroke/IM
  • class Junior
  • Hometown Chester, Va.
  • High school Exodus Christian School
  • position Backstroke/IM
  • class Junior
  • 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