ATHENS, Ga. – The swimming and diving team fought for five finals spots on Thursday evening, highlighted by the performances of Sam Duncan, Carson Hick, Paige Housman, Ryan Merani, and Levi Sandidge. The Wildcat women end the day in 11th place with 166 points and the men in 9th with 231.

The morning preliminary round began with the women’s 400 IM, which the Wildcats had eight student athletes compete in. The standout was Housman, who qualified for the C Final and broke her personal best that she had set a couple of weeks previously. Fifth-year Bridget Engel set a new personal best time along with freshmen Sammie Hamilton and Billie Sherratt, and sophomore Marie Belli who also achieved NCAA B-Standard times. In the 100 butterfly, junior Denise Phelan topped her previous time, marking a new best for herself.

On the men’s side Ryan Merani and Levi Sandidge stood out once again in the 400 IM, both earning a spot in the B final and achieving a B-Standard time. The senior, Jackson Mussler, set a personal best and also reached a B-Standard time in the same race. A new top ten time was reached in the 100 fly (47.19) by Devin Naoroz, who became the eighth ranked in program history in that event. Rounding out the men’s final was the sophomore Hick who set the third best time of the program in the 200 free at 1:34.10. Freshman Caue Gluck and senior Nick Caruso set new personal bests as well, making it 10 total during prelims for the Wildcats.

The swimming finals featured solid performances from all of the UK participants. Housman soared to another personal best and B-Standard time, receiving sixth place in the 400 IM C Final. Sandidge battled for a B-Standard time in the B Final, but it was Merani with a new 400 IM program record of 3:41.12 in third place. In the last swimming event of the day Hick swam the program’s second fastest time, a 1:33.41, bettering his personal best from earlier in the day.

On the diving side, fifth-year Duncan performed outstanding once again, securing a spot in the A Final with a score of 332.25. In the finals, Duncan dove for eighth place with an improved score of 337.70 to round out day four.

Day five of the championship starts with preliminary swimming of the 200 fly, 100 back, and 100 breast at 9:30 a.m. ET, followed by women’s platform dive prelims at noon, with B-Finals directly after. The swimming finals will start at 5:30 p.m. ET with the 400 medley relay and end with diving the women’s platform final. All sessions can be live streamed on SECN+, and live stats can be found here.

New NCAA B-Standard:

  • Carson Hick – 200 Free
  • Marie Belli – 400 IM
  • Paige Housman – 400 IM
  • Sammie Hamilton – 400 IM
  • Ryan Merani – 400 IM
  • Jackson Mussler – 400 IM

 

Tomorrow’s Events:

  • 200 Fly
  • 100 Back
  • 100 Breast
  • Women’s Platform Dive
  • 400 Medley Relay

 

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