University of Kentucky diver Kari Retrum became the first UK freshman to win an SEC diving title, claiming the women?s platform diving event at the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships Saturday evening at Georgia?s Gabrielsen Natatorium. Retrum becomes the first UK female SEC Diving Champion since Christy Soulakis won the three-meter diving event at the 1997 SEC Championships and the first UK female swimmer or diver to win an SEC crown since Rachel Komisarz took the 500 and 1650-yard freestyle events at the 1999 SEC Championships.
Retrum?s title marks the fourth-consecutive season that one of Coach Mike Lyden?s divers has earned an SEC Championship. Former Wildcat great Clayton Moss claimed the one-meter diving title in 2001 and 2002 and the three-meter diving title a season ago. His divers have won SEC titles in seven of the past nine seasons.
Retrum, a Noblesville, Ind., native, led after each of the five rounds of competition and took the final dive of each round. A spectacular final dive by Georgia freshman Emily Hunter in front of the home crowd put Retrum behind by 47.8 points going into her final dive. The resilient Kentucky freshman answered, delivering a final dive score of 58.80 to secure the victory.
Retrum was aware of the challenge she faced going into her final dive.
?I could tell from the Georgia crowd that she (Emily Hunter) had performed a really great dive. I just tried not to think about it and chose to focus on my own dive coming up,? Retrum said. ?I?m just overwhelmed right now; I didn?t think I would even medal.?
Lyden was thrilled by his prized freshman.
?Kari is a class girl and has a great competitive spirit,? Lyden said. ?She?s a special person who is tough in pressure situations. I knew she was good coming into the event, but this is really special.?
After placing seventh on the platform at the 2003 SEC Championships at Auburn, sophomore Jessica Thompson moved up a spot to sixth with a score of 377.00.
UK sophomore Daniel Farnham, a Mt. Berry, Ga., native, completed a triumphant return to his home state, placing fifth in the 100-yard freestyle with an NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 44.06, a Kentucky season high. Junior Tim Patrick placed seventh in the consolation final for a 15th-place overall finish.
Sophomore Brennan Moore and junior Caitlin Muldoon added to the Kentucky tally with 14th and 16th place finishes in the women?s 1650-yard freestyle event. Freshman Eric Weber scored for the Kentucky men, placing 15th in the 1650-yard freestyle. Sophomore Laura Graham contributed to the Wildcat cause with a 16th-place showing in the 200-yard individual medley.
The Cats completed a successful four-day showing at the 2004 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships, as the UK men placed fifth overall with 309 points after finishing sixth a year ago. The UK women scored one of their best showings ever, finishing sixth with 252.5 points after a ninth-place showing in 2003. AGATE:
Women?s Platform Diving 1. Kari Retrum ? 428.00 6. Jessica Thompson ? 377.00 11. Jillian Becker ? 309.25 12. Joey Brown ? 307.85 Women?s 1650-Yard Freestyle 13. Brennan Moore ? 16:53.73 16. Caitlin Muldoon ? 17:01.93 Men?s 1650-Yard Freestyle 14. Eric Weber ? 15:53.81 20. Dave Roberts ? 16:17.35 Women?s 200-Yard IM 16. Laura Graham ? 2:03.07 Men?s 200-Yard IM Steven Manley ? DQ Men?s 100-Yard Freestyle 5. Daniel Farnham ? 44:06 15. Tim Patrick ? 45:48 Women?s 400-Yard Medley Relay 5. Kentucky (Siegele, Graham, Gibson, Deveaux) ? 3:48.35 Men?s 400-Yard Medley Relay 6. Kentucky (Barros, Manley, Cruz, Farnham) ? 3:18.61 Final Team Scores Women 1 Auburn 846 2 Georgia 756 3 Florida 680 4 Tennessee 264 5 South Carolina 263 6 Kentucky 252.5 7 Arkansas 236 8 Alabama 222.5 9 LSU 212 Men 1 Auburn 1008 2 Florida 705 3 Georgia 469 4 Tennessee 369 5 Kentucky 309 6 Alabama 296 7 LSU 242 8 South Carolina 238
