Georgia’s Carter, Murphy Claim SEC 200 Fly Titles

Friday, February 22

Athens, Ga.

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University of Georgia

SEC Championships

Georgia’s Carter, Murphy Claim SEC 200 Fly Titles

February 22, 2019 | Swimming & Diving

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SEC Championships Central

ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia's Olivia Carter and Camden Murphy claimed 200 butterfly titles during the Southeastern Conference Championships in Gabrielsen Natatorium on Friday.

After four days of competition, the Lady Bulldogs stand fourth with 677.5 points. They trail Texas A&M (871.5), Florida (788.5), and Tennessee (709.5). The Bulldogs are also fourth with 614.5 points. Florida (868) leads followed by Missouri (860.5) and Texas A&M (673).

In the first event of the night, Carter claimed first in the women's 200 butterfly with a time of 1:53.23. This is the fifth-fastest time in the nation and a personal best for Carter. She moves up to No. 4 on Georgia's all-time top-10 list. This is the sixth time the Georgia women have won the 200 butterfly. Previous winner includes 4-time winner and recent UGA Circle of Honor inductee Mary DeScenza. Dakota Luther made the podium on Friday as well, taking third with a time of 1:54.32. Caitlin Casazza finished fifth in 1:55.21.

Murphy claimed his SEC butterfly title with an effort of 1:40.62. This time moves him up to No. 5 on Georgia's all-time top-10 list. This is the 11th time the Georgia men have won this event, led by Mark Dylla claiming the race four times. Blake Atmore followed at 11th, stopping the clock in 1:44.53. Caleb Harrington claimed 20th in 1:46.03 and Clayton Forde placed 22nd in a time of 1:46.32.

"It was a great start to the evening," Associate head coach Brian Smith said. "We had three kids in the top eight of that 200 women's butterfly. For a freshman to become an SEC champion, it was a great, great start on the women's side. And then for the guy's side, that's one for the ages. Camden's a great swimmer and that's what we train him for. He does a great job. He earned it. He does a great job in the underwaters and it paid off. It was a great swim."

In the women's 100 backstroke, Portia Brown set a career-best time of 53.30 and finished 17th. Gabi Fa'amausili came in at 19th, stopping the clock in 53.48.

Sofia Carnevale finished third with a career-best time of 59.19 in the women's 100 breaststroke. This time puts her at No. 4 on Georgia's all-time list. Danielle Della Torre came in at 15th in 1:01.16

In women's platform diving, McKensi Austin led Georgia with a 10th-place finish, racking up 244.30 points. Freida Lim took 18th with 220.45 points while Kelliann Howell came in 21st with 214.50 points.

In the women's 400 medley relay, Carter, Carnevale, Luther, and Courtney Harnish placed ninth with a time of 3:34.45.

In the men's 100 backstroke, Javier Acevedo paced the Bulldogs, finishing fourth with a time of 45.42. Bradley Dunham came in 18th with a new career-best time of 47.13. Youssef Said placed 22nd, touching the wall in 47.68.

Jack Dalmolin finished 11th with a career-best time of 52.92 in the men's 100 breaststroke. He moves to No. 5 on Georgia's all-time list. James Guest followed in 13th in 52.95. Colin Monaghan won the C final in 53.33 to take 17th. This was a career best for the senior and it puts him at No. 6 on Georgia's top-10 list.

In the men's 400 medley relay, Acevedo, Guest, Murphy, and Alex BeMiller place in sixth out of the field with a time of 3:06.94, highlighted by BeMiller's freestyle split of 43.14. That relay time is a season best for the Bulldogs.

The SECs will conclude on Saturday with the 1,650 freestyle, the 200 backstroke, the 100 freestyle, the 200 breaststroke, men's platform diving, and the 400 freestyle relay. Prelims begin at 10 a.m., with finals starting at 6 p.m.