LEXINGTON, Ky.?Senior Taryn Ignacio is best in the SEC once again, this time taking the one-meter diving event for the second time in three years with a score of 333.90. Her clip set a Southeastern Conference record, Lancaster Aquatic Center record, UK record and a career-high mark en route to her fourth championship in three seasons.
Junior Kari Retrum placed fourth in the same event, with a score of 304.80 to help guide Kentucky?s women into first place through two events. Kentucky holds a 68-64 edge over reigning champion Auburn.
On the men?s side, sophomore Justin Smith appearing in his first SEC finals event of his career placed eighth with a score of 387.50.
Ignacio entered the evening with the top seed after scoring the best mark in the preliminary rounds, earning her the coveted last dive. She needed just 44 points to win, and nailed the final dive with 57.60. The senior notched the high score in five of the six rounds.
?I was relaxed and just focused on the last dive,? said Ignacio. ?I try not to focus on other divers and just focus on what I have to do.?
Coach Mike Lyden was thrilled with his divers? performances, ?Tonight was the best final I have seen in the SEC. All of the girls came out ready to dive their best. I couldn?t be happier with Taryn (Ignacio) and Kari (Retrum). Kari performed well and Taryn just went above and beyond by setting an SEC and pool record tonight.?
Retrum took fourth, after placing third in last night?s three-meter event. The junior has already topped her sophomore season showing.
?I felt great,? she said. ?I dove the best I could and I was consistent throughout. I don?t feel like I missed any of my dives. I feel like I can chalk this up to experience and improve as I get ready for zones and the NCAA.?
Smith scoring and appearing in his first SEC Championships finals started off a little slow on his first two dives, but made a valiant comeback effort in his final four dives.
?This was my first SEC finals so I just wanted to score points for my team, which I did,? Smith said. ?This was a good learning experience.?
All general admission tickets for the three-day diving session are available. The cost for a full day (two sessions) for the event is $15. Preliminary competition on Friday and Saturday begins at 11 a.m., while the finals events begin at 6 p.m. On Sunday, preliminary rounds will kick off at 11 a.m., with the finals set to begin at 2:30.
Approximately less than 100 tickets are available for the four day swimming sessions. Deck and bleacher tickets will be available for each day and will cost $20 for two sessions (one day of competition). Wed., Feb 7, preliminary heats will begin at noon with finals set to begin at 6 that night. Thursday-Saturday preliminary events begin at 10 a.m., with the finals taking place at 6.
Complete coverage of the 2007 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
Men?s Team Scores
1) Auburn 120
2) Florida 43
3) Georgia 39
4) South Carolina 33
5) Alabama 25
6) Kentucky 20
7) LSU 17
8) Tennessee 13
Women?s Team Results
1) Kentucky 68
2) Auburn 64
3) LSU 58.50
4) Tennessee 38
5) South Carolina 28
6) Georgia 25.50
7) Arkansas 25
8) Florida 3
