TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Kentucky swimming and diving teams opened up the individual events of the 2001 Southeastern Conference Championships today.

Senior Jaime Siegele took third place in the 50 freestyle, swimming to a time of 22.72, tying the school record and qualifying her automatically for the NCAA Championship meet.

“We started the meet off great last night but stumbled a bit this morning,” UK coach Gary Connelly said. “Jaime’s swim redeemed us and it was a swim that a coach likes to see, in part because she is a great team member and person. For her to swim to a school record time and an ‘A’ cut her senior year is awesome.”The men’s 200 freestyle relay set a new school record with a time of 1:20.06, which was also an NCAA provisional time, placing the team fourth.

The women’s team finished sixth

The first event was the 500 freestyle, in which Macon White qualified in the championship heat for the men and Carolyn Rader qualified in the consolation heat for the women. White finished sixth, while Rader finished 11th.

In the 200 individual medley, Melissa Olson represented the Wildcats in the consolation heat, placing 10th.

For the men’s in the 50 freestyle, Shaun Zitani qualified in the championship heat and Aaron Workman qualified in the consolation heat. Zitani finished sixth as Workman came in 10th.

Tomorrow’s events at the Alabama Aquatic Center will include the 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, men’s three-meter diving, and 400 medley relay.

AGATE

Men’s 500 Freestyle1. Kevin Clements Auburn 4:19.272. Ricardo Monasterio Florida 4:19.373. James Galloway Auburn 4:21.30

6. Macon White Kentucky 4:24.6618. David Tweedie Kentucky 4:29.9820. David Kuendig Kentucky 4:32.3127. Darron Berquist Kentucky 4:40.16

Women’s 500 Freestyle1. Janelle Atkinson Florida 4:43.382. Julie Hardt Georgia 4:44.003. Sara McCarty Florida 4:46.68

11. Carolyn Rader Kentucky 4:49.2024. Amanda Bourgeois Kentucky 5:01.4428. Tracy Sullivan Kentucky 5:02.6533. Debra Hinsley Kentucky 5:03.3636. Emily Johnston Kentucky 5:07.2143. Michelle Inzetta Kentucky 5:20.22

Men’s 200 Individual Medley1. Duncan Sherrard Florida 1:45.382. Jeff Somensatto Auburn 1:46.773. Jeremy McDonnell Tennessee 1:46.86

24. Eddie Clement Kentucky 1:51.5536. Matt Nilson Kentucky 1:55.3140. Russ Throckmorton Kentucky 1:58.6541. Eddie Wolling Kentucky 1:59.64

Women’s 200 Individual Medley1. Maggie Bowen Auburn 1:57.262. Keegan Walkley Georgia 1:59.153. Jamie Ellis Florida 1:59.22

10. Melissa Olson Kentucky 2:03.3135. Kendra Trahan Kentucky 2:09.8737. Kelli Stein Kentucky 2:10.1339. Jenaca Pumphrey Kentucky 2:11.61

Men’s 50 Freestyle1. Zsolt Gaspar South Carolina 19.532. Greg Busse Auburn 19.703. Carlos Jayme Florida 19.91

6. Shaun Zitani Kentucky 20.0910. Aaron Workman Kentucky 20.1022. Roger Watkins Kentucky 20.5829. Fernando Barros Kentucky 20.8243. Daniel Wimer Kentucky 21.2149. Jamie Peterkin Kentucky 21.5653. Derek Perkins Kentucky 21.7357. Tom Vogt (EXH.) Kentucky 23.18

Women’s 50 Freestyle1. Eileen Coparropa Auburn 22.352. Leah Martindale Florida 22.683. Jaime Siegele Kentucky 22.72

25. Sarah Hoppe Kentucky 24.1338. Kelly Neal Kentucky 24.5942. Shawna Sechrist Kentucky 24.84

Women’s One-Meter Diving1. Jamie Sanger TENNESSEE 311.702. Karen Rubenstein AUBURN 287.003. Jamie Watkins L.S.U. 283.65.

9. Kelli Frost Kentucky 253.7011. Sarah Fields Kentucky 250.4013. Carrie Knoeber Kentucky 244.30

Men’s 200 Freestyle Relay1. TENNESSEE 1:18.172. FLORIDA 1:18.623. AUBURN 1:19.07

4. Kentucky (Zitani, Barros, Watkins, Workman) 1:20.06

Women’s 200 Freestyle Relay1. AUBURN 1:30.592. FLORIDA 1:30.813. GEORGIA 1:30.93

6. Kentucky (Siegele, Rader, Hoppe, Neal) 1:33.86