July 19, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. – Three Kentucky swimmers qualified for the National Championships this past weekend at the Southern Zone Sectionals in Athens, Ga. David Sanders, Kayla Sergesketter and Megan Eppler join seven teammates who already possessed qualifying time standards from previous meets. The Wildcats amassed 27 personal best times at this weekend’s meet.
Rising sophomore Sanders began the meet with a bang tapping in the 50-free with a time of 23.59, a personal best and National qualifying time. Finishing closely behind with a strong time of 23.75 was teammate Colin Faris.
With tough competition, Tyler Reed, who is one of the seven already qualified for nationals, finished fourth in the 200-freestyle. He clocked in with a time of 1:53.13, an automatic National cut. Reed swimming against five decorated Auburn grads, finished sixth in the 100-free in a time of 51.21. Sanders’ 51.93 and Faris’ 52.42 earned them personal bests in the event.
Adding to their success, Sanders and Faris both achieved best times in the 100-fly. Sanders tapped in at 55.92, just off the national cut and Faris clocked in at 59.13.
Matt Russell and Travis Green followed in the achievements, both with individual best times, Russell tapped a 1:07.53 in the 100-breatstroke and Green touched in a 54.53 in the 100-free.
On the women’s side, Sergesketter had an exceptional meet finishing with a national qualifying time in the 50-free. She finished fifth clocking in a time of 26.65, just off the cut, but achieved the national time standard in a time trial later in the meet by tapping in for a 26.39. Sergesketter also captured a best time in the 200-free (2:05.38) and 100-free (57.36).
Also in the 200-free, Chelsea Peterson scored a best time of 2:08.97. She finished 10th in the 100 with a time of 58.46 and teammate Mandy Myers tapped in at 58.71.
The 100-fly was another great event for the Wildcat women. UK had four personal bests in one event, with Myers leading the pack in a 13th place finish and time of 1:03.24 and right behind her was Kelcy Perry’s time of 1:03.42. Anna Mattox’s time of 1:06.08 and Amanda Lehotan 1:07.88 added best times as well.
Chatham Penrod, who had previously qualified for nationals, tapped in for a sixth place finish and time of 1:03.34 in the 100-back with teammates Eppler (1:05.42), Perry (1:05.51) and Lehotan (1:10.14) also gaining personal best times in the event.
Penrod’s 2:15.78 and second place finish in the 200-back helped her obtain another best time. Just behind her, Eppler scored a time of 2:18.77, a national qualifying time.
Lindsey Graessle finished 19th in the 100-breaststoke with a time of 1:13.94 and teammate Jenna Willis clocked in at 1:15.99.
Follow the Cats in August where they compete against the best in the nation at the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships.
