By Robert Gibbs on SwimSwam

2021 SEC MEN’S SWIMMING& DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tuesday, February 23- Friday, February 26, 2021 Columbia, MO- University of Missouri Prelims/Finals: 10 AM/ 5 PM Tues, 10 AM/ 6 PM Weds-Fri( Central Standard Time) Defending Champion: Florida (8 x)( results) Live Video- SEC Network Championship Central( SEC ) Championship Central( Mizzou ) Updated psych sheet Live Results

Florida junior Kieran Smith came within a few tenths of his second freestyle U.S. Open Record, as he resulted off Florida’s 800 free relay in 1:29.48, moving him to# 2 all-time.

Smith came into tonight with a lifetime best of 1:30.11, which he did leading off Florida’s relay at last year’s SEC Championships, which situated him at# 4 all-time.

Fastest 200 Freestyles( SCY)

Dean Farris– 1:29.15 Kieran Smith– 1:29.48 Townley Haas- 1:29.50 Blake Pieroni- 1:29.63 Andrew Seliskar- 1:30.14( twice)

Of those five, 3 swim their best goes leading off a 800 free communicate, with Farris and Pieroni leading off an 800 free communicate at NCAAs. Haas swam his best time as an individual event, and Seliskar at the 2019 NCAA Championships split 1:30.14 leading off an 800 free communicate and to prevail the individual event. Despite Smith’s valiant efforts tonight, Texas A& M came out on top in tonight’s relay, snapping an 8-year win fleck for the Gators.

Last year, Smith followed up his 1:30.11 leadoff on Day 1 by swimming the fastest 500 free ever on Day 2, rending a 4:06.32 that lowered that recognize by nearly a second. He’s was incorporated in both the 500 free and the 200 IM tomorrow, so it will be interesting to which event he ceases up swimming.

Smith was faster on all four splits of his 200 free than he was at last year’s SEC Championships, but notably his finishing 50 did most of the damage,. 43 seconds better. If Smith is getting better at the “endurance” part of his freestyle, that bodes well for his 500 free on Wednesday.

Smith- 2020 SECs

Smith- 2021 SECs

20.85 20.68 22.53( 43.38) 22.61( 43.29)

23.20( 1:06.58) 23.09( 1:06.38)

23.53( 1:30.11) 23.10( 1:29.48)

The difference between Smith and the fastest-ever Dean Farris comes in the opening 100. In his record-breaking swim, Farris split 42.8 on the first 100.

Read the full narrative on SwimSwam: Kieran Smith Blasts 1:29.48 Extending off Florida’s 800 -F-R, Now# 2 All-Time

Read more: swimswam.com