Arkansas Sends Four To Friday Night’s Finals

Prelim Results (PDF) | Prelim Results (HTML) | Diving Prelims (PDF) | Final Results (PDF) | Final Results (HTML)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Arkansas swimming and diving team sent four swimmers to Friday night finals at the 2017 SEC Championships inside the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

In the 200 butterfly B final, junior Chelsea Tatlow and junior Jessie Garrison both broke their personal bests that each had set in the morning prelims, on their way to 11th (1:57.55) and 13th (1:57.85) place overall finishes, respectively. They both hold two of the top-four times by Arkansas this year after their prelims and finals performances and Tatlow now sits fifth in school history in the event.

Sophomore Madison Strathman recorded a ‘B’ cut in the 100 breaststroke prelim, advancing to the C final along with sophomore Sydney Angell. Angell touched in a season-best 1:02.02 in the C final, the third fastest time on the team this season to finish 20th overall. Angell recorded her first ‘B’ cut of the year in the event. Finishing 24th in the finals in a time of 1:02.58, Strathman now owns four of the top-five times this season.

“Another great evening with our ladies making the most of their swims tonight,” head coach Neil Harper said. “I thought Jessie and Chelsea swam great races, getting personal bests in the 200 fly. Sydney and Madison did us proud in the 100 breast. Our 400 medley relay did a really nice job. Chelsea led off with a personal best in the 100 back, Sydney and Olivia had fast legs and Jessie capped off a great meet with another best split to anchor the relay. We are looking forward to our events tomorrow to see if we can record more personal bests and finish the meet strong.”

In the final diving event of the Championships, junior Nicole Gillis led the Razorbacks in the platform at 222.10 but was unable to qualify for the event finals. Gillis finished the week with two top-ten finishes in the 1m and 3m.

“While the four divers we brought to the SEC Championships have made tremendous improvements,” diving coach Dale Schultz said. “The conference itself has grown drastically as well. We have some work ahead of us over the next 12 months.”

To close out the day, the quartet of Tatlow, Angell, Olivia Weekley and Garrison touched in the fastest time by Arkansas this season in the 400 medley relay, with an 11th place finish at 3:39.06.

Six personal bests, three season bests and six ‘B’ cuts were set on Friday, as Arkansas remains in 11th place with 215 points heading into the final day of the 2017 SEC Championships.

Action from Knoxville will start back on Saturday at 9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. ET with the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke and 1650 freestyle prelims.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SATURDAY
Prelims (9 a.m.)
200 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke
1650 Freestyle Prelims (TBD)

Finals (5 p.m.)
1650 Freestyle (Final Heat)
200 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke

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