Razorbacks Set For SEC Championships
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Arkansas swimming and diving team officially kicks off its championship season at the 2016 Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Championships in Columbia, Missouri, which run Tuesday through Saturday at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.
The first day of competition includes the 1-meter diving preliminaries as well as the championship finals of the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. The championships continue on through Saturday’s finals with prelims and finals each day. Complete coverage of all five days will be streamed through SEC Network + and the WatchESPN app.
Arkansas enters the championship season with a record of 9-1 (3-1) and is receiving votes in the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Top 25. The Razorbacks are riding the momentum of a two-meet winning streak that closed out the 2015-16 regular season. In their final two meets, the Razorbacks swept Houston, Vanderbilt and Clemson in a quad meet on Jan. 22 then followed suit a week later with an 86-point victory over Illinois on Senior Day. During that span, the Razorbacks captured first-place finishes in 32 of 36 events.
“Heading into championship season we really just focus on controlling what we can control – swimming in our lanes and taking care of what is in front of us,” Arkansas swimming and diving head coach Sean Schimmel said. “We have done a lot of work on our team dynamic. It is important for each of us to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Being there and supporting each other is critical to our success. We are in a good spot right now and we are looking forward to competing this week.”
Arkansas holds 10 individual top-50 times in the nation and 14 top-20 times in the SEC with a best of No. 5 by senior Anna Mayfield in the 500 free (4:41.57). That time also ranks fifteenth nationally.
Mayfield leads the way with four of the Razorbacks’ individual top-20 times in the SEC. In addition, she and senior Maddie Monroe each hold two of the Razorbacks’ individual top-50 times in the nation.
In relays, the Razorbacks have collected five top-12 times in the SEC. Mayfield, Monroe, junior Natalie Burnett and senior Nina Drolc have teamed up to record two of the Razorbacks’ five top-12 relay times in the SEC.
In diving, sophomore Nicole Gillis and senior Shelby Bartlett have combined for three top-20 dives in the conference.
Arkansas totaled six SEC weekly individual honors during the regular season, the most in single-season program history. Four of those were captured by freshman Madison Strathman. The Kearney, Missouri native is one of just four swimmers in conference history to earn SEC Freshman of the Week a league-record four times in a single season.
The Razorbacks finished 10th at last year’s SEC Championships held in Auburn, Alabama
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
TUESDAY
Diving Prelims (11 a.m.)
Women’s 1-Meter
Evening Finals (5:30 p.m.)
Women’s 1-Meter
200 Medley Relay
800 Free Relay
WEDNESDAY
Swimming Prelims (10 a.m.)
500 Free
200 IM
50 Free
Evening Finals (6 p.m.)
500 Free
200 IM
50 Free
200 Free Relay
THURSDAY
Swimming Prelims (10 a.m.)
400 IM
100 Fly
200 Free
Diving Prelims (1 p.m.)
Women’s 3-Meter
Evening Finals (6 p.m.)
400 IM
100 Fly
200 Free
Women’s 3-Meter
FRIDAY
Swimming Prelims (10 a.m.)
200 Fly
100 Back
100 Breast
Evening Finals (6 p.m.)
200 Fly
100 Back
100 Breast
400 Medley Relay
SATURDAY
Swimming Prelims (10 a.m.)
200 Back
100 Free
200 Breast
Diving Prelims (1 p.m.)
Women’s Platform
Early Heats-1650 Free (4 p.m.)
Evening Finals (6 p.m.)
1650 Free (Final Heat)
200 Back
100 Free
200 Breast
Women’s Platform
400 Free Relay
