Feb. 21, 2002
The University of Kentucky men stand in fourth and the women in eighth as action continued on Thursday, Feb. 21, at the HPER Natatorium on the University of Arkansas campus. The men have 187 team points while the women have 129 points.
In the women’s 500 freestyle finals and consolation competition, freshman Marci Vrooman claimed the top slot for UK, touching the wall in 4:51.03 for a sixth-place finish. Also competing in the race for the Wildcats was freshman Chrissy Miller, who placed 12th (4:54.41), and Carolyn Rader (4:55.12) who placed 13th.
For the men, sophomore Joey Faltraco was up to his old ways, collecting his fourth school record of the year as he clocked a 1:49.17 in the 200 IM to place 11th.
“It feels good,” Faltraco said. “Tomorrow we are going to work on improving one of the old ones. As a team I think we are starting to swim better because we will have all of our jitters out and our adrenaline going.”
Also collecting points for the men in the individual events was sophomore Daniel Wimer, who finished 15th in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.64.
The night finished with the men’s and women’s 200 freestyle relay. The women’s squad of senior Sarah Hoppe, Vrooman, Miller and Rader clocked a 1:35.29 to place eighth while the men’s squad of sophomore Fernando Barros, junior Roger Watkins, freshman Clay Gasparovich and Wimer clocked a 1:20.82 to place sixth.
“I think we swam real well today,” UK Coach Gary Conelly said. “Obviously we are real pleased with Joey (Faltraco). We are also real happy with Marci Vrooman. Being a freshman and swimming in the finals and not folding under the pressure is great.”
Numerous top-times were recorded for UK during Thursday’s preliminary action. Senior David Kuendig’s 4:31.87 in the 500 freestyle is the seventh best time in Kentucky history. Also recording top-times were Wimer (20.56) and Gasparovich (20.82), both in the 50 freestyle and ranking fifth and tied for ninth, respectively.
For the women, Vrooman’s 4:51.03 in the 500 freestyle finals ranks eighth all-time while Hoppe’s 23.86 in the 50 freestyle is the sixth-fastest time ever recorded by a Wildcat female.
Faltraco’s 200 IM consolation time and Vrooman’s 500 freestyle final both met the NCAA “B” standard. For Faltraco the provisional time is his third this season (200 backstroke, 400 IM) while Vrooman’s betters her previous provisional time in the same event. The men’s relay squad also met the “B” requirement.
“We are doing ok,” Conelly said. “The trick is to get good performances out of everyone tomorrow morning and getting to tomorrow night.”
The SEC Championships will continue on Friday with the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and the 400-medley relay.
SEC Champion and UK FinishesPl. NameYRSchoolPrelims Finals (UK Seed)Women's 500 Freestyle1. Janelle AtkinsonSOUF4:50.534:42.886. Marci VroomanFRUK4:52.85 4:51.03 (6)12. Chrissy MillerFRUK4:56.03 4:54.41 (15)13. Carolyn RaderSRUK4:58.58 4:55.12 (12)17. Caitlin MuldoonFRUK4:58.5821. Amanda BourgeoisSOUK5:00.9327. Cami MillerFRUK5:03.7933. Emily JohnstonJRUK5:08.2435. Debra HinsleySRUK5:09.3739. X-Audrey JohnsonFRUK5:11.85
Men’s 500 Freestyle1. Kevin ClementsSRAU4:22.024:17.2017. Dave KuendigSRUK4:31.8731. Ryan Bowman FRUK4:41.2832. Chris ManceFRUK4:43.9533. X-Dane RedingerFRUK4:48.8334. X-Jon CartledgeFRUK4:51.42
Women’s 200 IM1. Maggie BowenJRAU1:59.471:56.5123. Xenavee PangelinanFRUK2:09.5726. Kendra TrahanSOUK2:10.6031. Jenaca PumphreySOUK2:12.17
Men’s 200 IM1. Eric DonnellySRUF1:46.061:46.2311. Joey FaltracoSOUK1:50.004:49.17 (12)22. Eddie ClementJRUK1:53.2529. Russ ThrockmortonSOUK1:55.8530. Matt NilsonJRUK1:56.36
Women’s 50 Freestyle1. Maritza CorrieaJRUGA22.3822.3124. Sarah HoppeSRUK23.8634. Shawna SechristSOUK24.4338. Tracy SullivanSRUK24.5842. Jessica SiegeleFRUK24.78X-Kelly NealJRUK24.37
Men’s 50 Freestyle1. Zsolt GasparSRUSC19.5419.6215. Daniel WimerSOUK20.56 20.64 (16)20. Roger WatkinsJRUK20.6724. Clay GasparovichFRUK20.8232. Adam GustafsonJRUK21.0940. Jamie PeterkinSOUK21.6344. Derek PerkinsSRUK21.88
Women’s 200 Freestyle Relay1. Georgia (Williams, Mabry, Kearns, Corriea)1:29.869. Kentucky (Hoppe, Vrooman, Ch. Miller, Rader)1:35.29
Men’s 200 Freestyle Relay1. Florida (Kostowicz, Jayme, Odendaal, Mangabeira)1:17.946. Kentucky (Barros, Watkins, Gasparovich, Wimer)1:20.82Team StandingsMen1. Florida3072. Auburn3063. Tennessee2114. Kentucky1875. Georgia1836. S. Carolina1787. Alabama1638. LSU81Women1. Florida259.52. Georgia249.53. Auburn2474. LSU200.55. Alabama1796. S. Carolina169.57. Tennessee1508. Kentucky1299. Arkansas108
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