The University of Alabama swimming and diving team broke another school record on the third day of competition at the Southeastern Conference Championships being held on the campus of Texas A&M.
Freshman Leonie Kullmann finished with a school record in the women’s 200 freestyle. Kullmann won the B final, finishing 9th overall and besting her own record set earlier in the season.
“Leonie [Kullmann] did a great job tonight,” said head coach Dennis Pursley in a press release. “She lowered her school record and that was a decisive win for her in the B final. We think she’s well-positioned for an invitation to the NCAA Championships and hopefully can find a little more improvement when she gets there. She’s having a good meet.”
Senior Luke Kaliszak started the night with a win in the B final of the men’s 100 butterfly. Freshman Tyler Sesvold finished fifth in the B final and 13th overall. Senior Braxton Young and sophomore Chris Staka finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in the C final of the same event.
In the final men’s event of the day, senior Christopher Reid finished seventh in the 200 freestyle. Junior Robert Howard won the B final, placing him 9th overall.
Senior Mia Nonnenberg began the night for the women by finishing second in the B final of the women’s 400 Individual medley, setting a season best for the Crimson Tide. Freshman Alina Faunce finished seventh in the B final, while sophomore Alexis Preski finished third in the C final, setting her personal best.
Freshman Flora Molnar set a UA season-best, finishing second in the women’s 100 butterfly B final. Molnar took a tenth of a second off her previous best time, set earlier this year. Hannah Musser finished fourth in the C final and 20th overall.
“We had some good swims tonight,” Pursley added. “Alexis Preski and Mia Nonnenberg dropped three seconds under their morning swims in the 400 IM and that was a really good job by them. Luke Kaliszak finishing under 40 seconds and winning the 100 fly B final. That gets him back into that NCAA range. So we had a good night but again, we’re not getting enough swimmers into the finals. But we’re going to have our strongest events in front of us. We’ll finish strong and see where that puts us.”
Saturday’s events will include men’s and women’s 200 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and the 400 medley relay in addition to the men’s platform diving event. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. CT and finals begin at 6 p.m.
