The Kentucky swimming & diving team will begin competition at the Southeastern Conference Championships Wednesday at the UT Aquatics Center in Knoxville, Tenn.
Both the women and the men are coming off tremendous regular seasons and are looking for the program’s best ever finishes at the SEC Championships.
The UK women went 8-3 (4-2 SEC), their highest win total since 1997-98, and ended the year winning their final four meets.
Last season the Cats swept the diving events for only the second time in conference history and the team finished fourth, their highest finish since 1998-99. The Cats return both defending champions junior Taryn Ignacio (three-meter and platform) and senior Jessica Thompson (one-meter).
Kentucky also returns key contributors who are looking to improve on where they placed last year such as seniors Laura Graham, Shantel Commander and Brennan Moore, as well as sophomores Jenny Bradford, Heather Bradford and Lindsay Myhre.
The UK men also look to improve on last year?s fourth place finish. Entering the SEC Championships the men already have secured NCAA cuts in four events. Senior Daniel Farnham qualified for the NCAA A cut his last time out against Cincinnati in the 100 freestyle. The returning All-American also helped the 400 medley relay team make the NCAA B cut.
Fellow senior Steven Manley also secured a NCAA A cut in the 200 freestyle swim. The returning All-American qualified for the NCAA Championships with his first place time of 1:35.22 against the Bearcats.
Freshman Mickey Malul, appearing in his first meet of the year against UC, also qualified for the NCAA B cut in the 100 breaststroke event as he finished in first with a time of 0:55.47.
If the Cats are to reach new heights at the SEC Championships they will need to continue to receive outstanding performances from their entire roster. The Cats will look to a group of swimmers like sophomores Kristian Outinen and Will Vietti, as well as junior Eric Weber, to improve on their scores from last season?s SEC Championships. UK will also count on newcomers, such as freshmen Shane Eliason and Warren Grobbelaar, who have helped the Cats claim victory in meets throughout the season.
The meet is scheduled to begin at noon EST with the time trials of the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. Finals are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. EST. Fans can check ukathletics.com for a recap of all the day’s action.
