Strong 400 IM Paces Gators at SEC Championships

Thursday, February 21

Athens, GA

All Day

Florida Gators

SEC Championships

Pearl collected another podium finish on day three in Athens

Strong 400 IM Paces Gators at SEC Championships

Thursday, February 21, 2019 | Women's Swimming & Diving

By: Chad Smith

Results

ATHENS, Ga. – Vanessa Pearl claimed her second podium of the SEC Championships, with a second-place finish in the 400 IM on Thursday at the Gabrielsen Natatorium. The Florida women's swimming & diving team finished day three of the 2019 SEC Championships in second place with 561.5 points.

Pearl got the finals started with an NCAA A Cut time and a career-best swim of 4:03.56 and placed second in the 400 IM A Final. She holds the third-fastest swim in UF history. With her personal-best time of 4:06.21, Kelly Fertel finished fourth in the A Final and recorded Florida's fourth-best mark in program history. Hannah Burns finished in seventh place with an effort of 4:07.51. Savanna Faulconer posted a career-best swim to win the 400 IM B Final.

Georgia Marris used a career-best performance to win the 100 Fly B Final with a swim of 52.23. Her time moved her into the No. 6 position all-time.

Marris followed her 100 Fly performance with a sixth-place finish with an effort of 1:45.35 in the 200 Free A Final. Kelsey Dambacher placed seventh with a time of 1:45.46. Tori Bindi recorded a fifth-place finish in the C Final with a career-best mark of 1:46.17. Taylor Ault clocked a personal-best swim of 1:46.72 and placed sixth. With a time of 1:47.82, Fertel placed seventh.

Florida had three swimmers qualify for the 400 IM A Final. Pearl led the group with a 4:05.23 and placed second in the prelims. Burns posted a career-best swim of 4:06.24 and finished in third. Burns' time moved her into the No. 5 spot in the UF record books. Fertel made the A Final with the seventh-best mark with an effort of 4:07.30. Faulconer was the lone swimmer to qualify for the B Final with the 10th-fastest time in prelims with a 4:08.87. Leah Braswell placed 26th with a swim of 4:16.97. Rosie Zavaros clocked a career-best swim of 4:18.91 and finished in 31st.

Marris was the lone swimmer in the 100 Fly and she qualified for the B Final with her personal-best mark of 52.85 and the 13th-fastest swim.

Marris led the Gators in the 200 Free prelims with the fifth-fastest time and a career-best swim of 1:45.00. Dambacher clocked a personal-best mark of 1:45.36 and qualified for the A Final as well. Fertel, Bindi, and Ault all qualified for the C Final. Fertel posted a 1:46.78 for the 19th-best mark. Bindi swam a 1:46.95 and placed 20th in prelims. Ault notched a time of 1:47.16 and finished in 22nd. Bella Garofalo had the 50th-fastest mark with a time of 1:50.00

Day four begins with the 200 Fly prelims at 10 a.m. ET on Friday.

Team Standings
1. Texas A&M – 618.5
2. Florida – 561.5
3. Tennessee – 557.5
4. Georgia – 471.5
5. Auburn – 447
6. Kentucky – 364
7. Arkansas – 346
8. Missouri – 329.5
9. South Carolina – 278
10. LSU – 273.5
11. Alabama – 209
12. Vanderbilt – 90

Results
400 IM
A Final
2. Vanessa Pearl – 4:03.56 PR
4. Kelly Fertel – 4:06.21 PR
7. Hannah Burns – 4:07.51
B Final
1. Savanna Faulconer – 4:06.59 PR
Prelims
2. Vanessa Pearl – 4:05.23
3. Hannah Burns – 4:06.24 PR
7. Kelly Fertel – 4:07.30
10. Savanna Faulconer – 4:08.87
26. Leah Braswell – 4:16.97
31. Rosie Zavaros – 4:18.91 PR
100 Fly
B Final
1. Georgia Marris – 52.23 PR
Prelims
13. Georgia Marris – 52.85 - PR
200 Free
A Final
5. Georgia Marris – 1:45.35
7. Kelsey Dambacher – 1:45.46
C Final
5. Tori Bindi – 1:46.17 PR
6. Taylor Ault – 1:46.72 PR
7. Kelly Fertel – 1:47.82
Prelims
5. Georgia Marris - 1:45.00 - PR
6. Kelsey Dambacher - 1:45.36 - PR
19. Kelly Fertel - 1:46.78
20. Tori Bindi - 1:46.95
22. Taylor Ault - 1:47.16
50. Bella Garofalo - 1:50.00

2019 Swim & Dive Championship Schedule

Date	Time	Event
Fri., Feb. 22	10:00 a.m.	Swimming Prelims (M&W) 200 Fly, 100 Back, 100 Breast
	12:30 p.m.	Women's Platform Prelims
	6:00 p.m.	Swimming & Diving Finals (M&W) 200 Fly, 100 Back, 100 Breast, Women's Platform, 400 Medley Relay
Sat., Feb 23	10:00 a.m.	Swimming Prelims (M&W) 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast
	12:30 p.m.	Men's Platform Prelims
	TBD	Swim 1650 Free Prelims
	6:00 p.m.	Swimming & Diving Finals (M&W) 1650 Free, 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, Men's Platform, 400 Free Relay