Alabama Men Win Nail-Biter Over Auburn, Women Complete Sweep
The traditional late-season matchup between the Alabama and Auburn went to the Crimson Tide Friday afternoon in Tuscaloosa. The men’s meet came down to the wire with Alabama topping Auburn by just two points, 151-149. The women’s meet had a slightly wider margin, with Bama winning 180.5-119.5.
Kicking off the competition for Alabama was Leonardo Alcantara, the winner of the 1000 freestyle in 8:50.19, followed by Tommy Hagar taking out the 100 backstroke in 45.91. Hagar later won the 200 back in 1:39.29.
Sean Niewold topped the 50 free (19.23) and 100 butterfly (45.90), and the 200 breaststroke belonged to Lance Johnson in 1:55.18. Alcantara secured a second victory in the 500 free (4:15.65).
Auburn started off strong for the men, with Ivan Tarasov, Uros Zivanovic, Sohib Khaled and Kalle Makinen winning the 200 medley relay in 1:23.33. Zivanovic was first in the 100 breast, his time of 53.26 edging Bama’s Steijn Louter by just one hundredth. Danny Schmidt was first in the 200 IM in 1:46.44, with teammate Mason Ballew just three hundredths back.
Daniel Krichevsky won the 200 free for Auburn in 1:33.29, and he added a top finish in the 100 free (42.57). Teammate Abdalla Youssef Nasr won the 200 fly (1:43.31). Diver Benjamin Wilson placed first on 3-meter (383.63) while Ethan Swart won 1-meter (366.15). Makinen, Krichevsky, Luke Bedsole and Russ Warner won the 400 free relay in 2:49.65.
The dominant Crimson Tide women’s team saw Emily Jones, Jada Scott, Tessa Giele and Cadence Vincent win the 200 medley relay in 1:34.34. Jones was the winner of the 100 back (51.17) and 200 back (1:53.58) while Vincent led the way in the 50 free with a time of 21.92 before also winning the 100 free (47.70). Giele scored first place in the 100 fly (51.67)
Mackenzie Brandt touched first in the 1000 free (9:45.09) and 500 free (4:44.56), and Charlotte Rosendale was the only swimmer to crack 1:00 in the 100 breast (59.96). Gaby Van Brunt came away with first-place points in the 200 fly (1:54.70). Alabama’s Rin Drudge was first in 1-meter diving (286.28). Isabella Chavez-Varela came home strong on the freestyle leg for the win in a tight 200 IM (2:00.20) while the 400 free relay went to Vincent, Jones, Giele and Van Brunt in convincing fashion (3:13.22).
Auburn’s Maggie McGuire took first in the 200 free (1:45.55), and Zoey Zeller dominated the 200 breast (2:10.60). In diving, Marria Faoro won 3-meter (315.90).