COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Vanderbilt swim program saw a second record fall in as many days on Wednesday with the performance of Mercedes Traba on Day 2 of the SEC Championships at Texas A&M’s Rec Center Natatorium.
After Ellie Taliaferro set a new school standard in the 200 free with her lead-off leg in the 800 free relay on Tuesday, Traba followed up with a record-breaking performance in the 500 free. Chantal Jordan and Faith Knelson were the Commodores’ top finishers in the other two events of the day before the 200 free relay just missed recording Vandy’s top time in the event of the season.
“It’s been a great way to start the meet with two school records and a lot of personal-best times, that sets the tone for the week and gets everybody excited for what’s coming over the next few days,” said head coach Jeremy Organ. “Mercedes has had a really strong season, a lot of it starts with what she does in practice day in and day out. She has improved her consistency and that has started to show itself in her performances.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do tomorrow.”
Meet Highlights
-Traba led the Dores after placing 42nd overall in the 500 free.
-Knelson (2:03.12) and Maddie Smith were the fastest of five Dores competing in the 200 IM, touching the wall less than a half second apart.
-Jordan paced a contingent of 12 Commodores competing in the 50 free.
-The Dores’ 200 free relay squad missed establishing the program’s best time of the season in the race by less than one-tenth of a second after finishing in 1:32.92.
Notes
-Traba’s time of 4:49.49 in the 500 free beat the previous school record—set by Selah Peacock in November 2017—by nearly five seconds.
-Megan Ciezczak led off the 200 free relay with a 23.39 split that ranks eighth on the program’s top-10 performer list in the 50 free.
-Smith had a 2:03.43 mark to set a new personal best in the 200 IM and meet the CSCAA National Invitational Championship B Standard in the event.
-Jordan (23.70) was one of seven Dores to post a season-low mark in the individual 50 free, with the group also including Karsyn Cook (23.78), Natalie Van Noy (23.81), Gabriela Pierobon Mays (23.85), Allison Bauer (23.99), Alina Stout (24.11), and Kristen Nutter (24.62).
-Emma Dalton had a time of 24.49 in the event, the fastest of her career.
-Kendall Hall also lowered her personal best time in the 500 free after touching the wall in 5:02.94.
Action at the SEC Championships continues Thursday beginning at 9:30 a.m.
