Feb. 17, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Lucas Gerotto’s stellar performance in the men’s final of the 100-butterfly churning a time of 47.00 highlighted day three for Kentucky at the Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville on Friday.
“We had a much better day today,” UK head coach Gary Conelly said.
It was one of the best swimming days of the championships for UK, with 11 Wildcats advancing to the night session. Kentucky recorded two top-10 finishes, and also had six top-15 finishes.
Lucas Gerotto, a Sao Paulo, Brazil native was the sixth seed heading into the finals, turning a time of 47.29 in the 100-fly prelims, and was able to shave .29 off of that time to post a 47.00 in the finals and take home a podium finish back to Lexington.
Tyler Reed, a Kentucky native was the other Wildcat in the top-10 on Friday night in Knoxville, placing fourth overall in the finals of the men’s 200-freestyle. The senior led the race at the final split and finished with a time of 1:35.53 to take the top-4 finishing slot.
“Lucas (Gerotto) was spectacular in his first-ever SEC final. Tyler (Reed) almost pulled off a win for us.” Conelly said.
Also in the 200-free, Kristen Wilson qualified for the night session swimming a 1:47.19 in the prelims, and followed that performance up with a 1:49.43 in the evening heat to take 16th place overall.
Ramon Walton qualified for the consolation finals in the 100-back, and finished third in his heat to take 11th overall in the event, swimming a 48.76 in the night session. In the same event on the women’s side, Lindsay Lash swam a 55.87 to claim 15th overall.
In the 100-fly, with the addition of Lucas Gerotto finishing third, Julia Gerotto finished 14th in the finals with a 54.41. Tripp Crosthwaite rounded out the field with a 16th-place finish swimming a 48.76.
In the 400-IM, Will Heidler qualified for the consolation finals with a 3:54.98, and finished 16th overall in the event, swimming a 3:57.11 in the nightcap.
In the only diving competition of the day, UK had one of the strongest showings in the field. Kentucky qualified John Fox and Greg Ferrucci into the finals. Kentucky was the only team to qualify two people into the finals. In the finals of the platform competition, Greg Ferrucci finished in 7th place earning a score of 333.10, and John Fox finished 8th. In the final rounds of the prelims, with the pressure on, Fox used a 65-plus-score dive to push himself into the finals, and earn a top-10 finish.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” UK head diving coach Ted Hautau said. “That was a heck of a meet. To have guys in the finals of the three-meter, one-meter, and two guys in the platform really shows that this program has come a long way in a short time, so I am really excited about that. To have those two guys on platform is a good experience for our guys. We have never been in that meet situation. It’s a different environment with the cameras, and I think it was valuable. I am really looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Kentucky’s diving women will take center stage Saturday in Knoxville, as tomorrow will be the women’s platform competition.
In the final event of the day, the 400-medley relay, Kentucky’s men’s team finished sixth recording a time of 3:14.16 and the women’s team for the Wildcats finished in eighth swimming a 3:43.80.
“Divers led the way again today with great performances by John Fox and Greg Ferrucci.” Conelly said.
Saturday will mark the final day of the Southeastern Conference Championships. On the men’s side, Auburn is seeking its 16th-consecutive SEC Championship, and holds a 20-point lead over second-place Florida. Tennessee is third.
“We are expecting big things tomorrow in the 100-free from Tyler Reed and Megan Eppler.” Conelly said.
ESPN, as part of its television contract with the SEC is proud to present the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships on a tape-delay basis on ESPNU in two parts. The first part will air Monday, Feb. 27 at 5:00 p.m. ET. The conclusion of the event will also be shown on ESPNU beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb 28. The first part of the event will feature the men’s competitions with the women’s competitions taking place on Tuesdays.
In the men’s overall event tally, Kentucky sits sixth while the women are in ninth place overall.
Team Standings (After Day 3 of 4):
Men:
1. Auburn 535 pts
2. Florida 515 pts
3. Tennessee 363 pts
4. Georgia 362 pts
5. LSU 295 pts
6. Kentucky 207.5 pts
7. Alabama 152.5 pts
8. South Carolina 125 pts
Women:
1. Georgia 528 pts
2. Tennessee 436.5 pts
3. Florida 361.5 pts
4. Auburn 358 pts
5. LSU 254 pts
6. Alabama 183 pts
7. South Carolina 165 pts
8. Arkansas 162 pts
9. Kentucky 82 pts
10. Vanderbilt 64 pts
For continuing coverage of the 2012 season, log on to UKAthletics.com.
