Vandy earns three finals swims on fourth day of SEC Champs

Feb. 20, 2015

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AUBURN, Ala. – Friday was the most productive day yet for the Commodores at the 2015 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships in Auburn, Ala. The team swam hard in preliminary swims, and as a result three athletes qualified for Friday night’s finals. This is the second year in a row that the `Dores have sent three swimmers to finals on the fourth day.

Breanna Sapienza, a freshman from Medford, Ore. was the first Commodore to qualify for “C” finals, breaking a school record, freshman record, and winning preliminary heat in the 200 butterfly at a time of 1:58.64.
Branna Sapienza

Another notable performance in the morning’s 200 fly prelim was by Rachel Koch who just missed placing in the 24-person final, coming in at 27th place. Koch swam her fastest time in her career in the event, coming in at 2:00.16. Carrie Bencic also established a personal record in the event, swimming in at 2:03.24

Later in the morning prelims, two more Commodores punched their tickets to the “C” finals. Senior Elly Faulkner and freshman Kara Lucenti earned the right to represent Vanderbilt in the 100-yard breaststroke after swimming times of 1:01.64 and 1:02.15. Both swimmers also earned their NCAA “B” cut, as they swam faster than 1:02.49.

Additionally, Both Lucenti and Kathryn Coughlin set a personal record in the 100-breast. Coughlin, a sophomore, swam in at a time of 1:03.15 for the black and gold.

During Friday night’s evening finals, the `Dores secured two second place finishes in their respected “C” finals. Sapienza went on to lead most of her 200 fly race, but took second and 18th overall with a time of 1:58.71.

An additional second place finish came from Faulkner, as she turned on the jets finishing 18th overall with at a time of 1:01.64. Lucenti finished 22nd overall in lane seven, swimming in at 1:02.18.

The Commodores capped off their day with the 400-medley relay. Chrissy Oberg, Elly Faulkner, Breanna Sapienza, and Hannah Martin all gave a great effort but came in 12th place swimming at a time of 3:43.11.

The `Dores take to the waters one last day as they have the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 freestyle relay. Preliminary swims will begin at 10 a.m. with finals starting at 6 p.m..