SEC Championships, Day 5: Hubert Kos Holds Off Baylor Nelson in 200 IM, Takes Second in 200 Back as Texas Pulls Away
Six individual swimming events, women’s platform diving and the women’s and men’s 400 freestyle relay wrapped up competition Saturday evening at the SEC Championships. For the second straight year since joining the conference, the Texas Longhorns were the dominant team throughout the event on the way to a pair of team titles.
Individually, Hubert Kos completed a tough double with a win in the 200 IM before finishing behind Florida’s Jonny Marshall in the 200 backstroke. In the men’s 100 freestyle, Josh Liendo could not catch up with sprint rivals Jere Hribar and Gui Caribe. raced against tough competition in the 100 freestyle in his final conference meet. For the women, Tennessee’s Camille Spink pulled off her third individual win of the meet as she nearly got under 46 in the 100 free.
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 38 1. University of Texas 1269.5 2. University of Tennessee 1018 3. University of Florida 929.5 4. University of Alabama 629 5. South Carolina, University of, 609.5 6. Louisiana State University 607.5 7. Auburn University 571.5 8. Georgia, University of 554 9. Texas A&M University 464 10. Missouri 366 11. University of Arkansas 268 12. Kentucky, University of 251.5 13. Vanderbilt University 118
Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 37 1. University of Texas 1318.5 2. University of Florida 1156 3. University of Tennessee 951.5 4. Auburn University 639 5. Georgia, University of 625 6. Louisiana State University 562 7. University of Alabama 534.5 8. Kentucky, University of 518 9. Texas A&M University 459.5 10. Missouri 372 11. South Carolina, University of, 308
Women’s 200 IM
The Texas Longhorns had championship hopes from the top-two qualifiers in the women’s 200 IM, Campbell Stoll and Campbell Chase. Stoll was looking particularly strong after capturing conference titles in the 100 and 200 butterfly earlier in the meet. Here, Stoll established an enormous lead over the front half of the race, the margin reaching more than a second by the 150-yard mark. But on the last two lengths, teammate Angie Coe pulled off a highly improbably comeback to steal the win by two hundredths.
Coe sat in third place entering the freestyle, with Stoll more than one-and-a-half seconds ahead. But Coe then finished in 26.47 to storm back and grab the win in 1:53.90, just ahead of Stoll’s 1:53.92. Not far back in third place was Tennessee’s Emily Brown in 1:54.26, grabbing her third top-three finish in individual races this week. Chase ended up fourth in 1:55.42.
Event 34 Women 200 Yard IM
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NCAA: N 1:48.37 3/16/2023 Kate Douglass, Virginia
SEC: S 1:51.62 2/20/2019 Meghan Small, Tennessee
Meet: M 1:51.62 2/20/2019 Meghan Small, Tennessee
Pool: P 1:48.37 3/16/2023 Kate Douglass, Virginia
1:57.88 NC
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Coe, Angie A JR Texas 1:56.79 1:53.90 NC 32
r:+0.63 25.13 54.12 (28.99)
1:27.43 (33.31) 1:53.90 (26.47)
2 Stoll, Campbell JR Texas 1:55.06 1:53.92 NC 28
r:+0.66 24.18 52.07 (27.89)
1:25.90 (33.83) 1:53.92 (28.02)
3 Brown, Emily SO Tennessee-SE 1:55.59 1:54.26 NC 27
r:+0.72 24.76 52.93 (28.17)
1:27.10 (34.17) 1:54.26 (27.16)
4 Chase, Campbell SO Texas 1:55.46 1:55.42 NC 26
r:+0.73 24.61 54.38 (29.77)
1:27.50 (33.12) 1:55.42 (27.92)
5 Kruger, Lainy A JR FLOR-FL 1:56.84 1:55.67 NC 25
r:+0.67 25.34 54.47 (29.13)
1:28.04 (33.57) 1:55.67 (27.63)
6 Maluka, Ieva SR UGA-GA 1:55.82 1:55.82 NC 24
r:+0.66 25.22 53.81 (28.59)
1:27.76 (33.95) 1:55.82 (28.06)
7 Rabb, Grace FR FLOR-FL 1:57.07 1:57.56 NC 23
r:+0.67 25.45 54.51 (29.06)
1:28.79 (34.28) 1:57.56 (28.77)
8 Cheng, Chloe SR LSU-LA 1:58.09 1:58.43 22
r:+0.74 25.52 56.04 (30.52)
1:29.96 (33.92) 1:58.43 (28.47)
Men’s 200 IM
Hubert Kos got through the first half of a grueling double, but the win was hardly comfortable. The reigning national champion in the event jumped in front early but had to fight off teammate Baylor Nelson on the back half. Nelson, the top-ranked swimmer in the country this season who already claimed the conference title in the 200 IM, recorded a 29.19 breaststroke leg to get the gap down to a quarter-second, but Kos reasserted himself on the final turn to break away.
Kos finished in 1:40.53, moving up to third in the national standings behind Nelson and NC State’s Arsenio Bustos. His best time of 1:37.91 is tied for second in history with Destin Lasco, with only training partner Leon Marchand ahead. Nelson took second in 1:41.09 while Camden Taylor, a third Longhorn who was the winner of the 200 free two days earlier, was third in 1:41.57.
The Longhorns ended up sweeping the top-four spots as Campbell McKean held off Texas A&M’s Logan Brown for fourth, 1:41.78 to 1:41.80. McKean’s breaststroke split was even quicker than Nelson’s at 28.92.
Event 35 Men 200 Yard IM
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NCAA: N 1:36.34 3/23/2023 Leon Marchand, ASU
SEC: S 1:37.91 3/27/2025 Hubert Kos, Texas
Meet: M 1:38.13 2/21/2021 Caeleb Dressel, Florida
Pool: P 1:41.19 2/16/2022 Luca Urlando, Georgia
1:44.13 NC
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Kos, Hubert SR Texas 1:42.25 1:40.53PNC 32
r:+0.61 20.99 45.73 (24.74)
1:16.01 (30.28) 1:40.53 (24.52)
2 Nelson, Baylor SR Texas 1:41.75 1:41.09PNC 28
r:+0.61 21.84 47.07 (25.23)
1:16.26 (29.19) 1:41.09 (24.83)
3 Taylor, Camden JR Texas 1:41.52 1:41.57 NC 27
r:+0.68 21.63 46.94 (25.31)
1:16.79 (29.85) 1:41.57 (24.78)
4 McKean, Campbel FR Texas 1:42.37 1:41.78 NC 26
r:+0.65 22.12 47.92 (25.80)
1:16.84 (28.92) 1:41.78 (24.94)
5 Brown, Logan H JR Texas A&M-GU 1:43.06 1:41.80 NC 25
r:+0.59 22.35 48.34 (25.99)
1:17.32 (28.98) 1:41.80 (24.48)
6 Urlando, Luca SR UGA-GA 1:42.31 1:42.29 NC 24
r:+0.62 21.64 46.67 (25.03)
1:17.51 (30.84) 1:42.29 (24.78)
7 Hitchcock, Drew SO UGA-GA 1:42.53 1:43.84 NC 23
r:+0.66 22.12 48.31 (26.19)
1:18.44 (30.13) 1:43.84 (25.40)
8 Kabbara, Munzy 5T Texas A&M-GU 1:43.34 1:44.07 NC 22
r:+0.63 21.86 47.78 (25.92)
1:18.40 (30.62) 1:44.07 (25.67)
Women’s 100 Freestyle
Competing in a conference meet in her home pool this week, Camille Spink has been the dominant freestyler. A narrow win in the 200 free was followed by a commanding 50 free win, where she became the fourth-fastest woman in history. Now, Spink has come through in the 100 free for her third individual win. Out in 21.64 and back in 24.37, Spink finished in 46.01 to win by three-quarters of a second.
With the effort, Spink became the fifth-fastest performer in history and third-fastest this college season behind Virginia’s Anna Moesch and Stanford’s Torri Huske. The title was the eighth individual win Spink has posted on the conference level; she completed the sweep of the 50, 100 and 200 free for the second consecutive season after winning the 50 and 100 with a second-place finish in the 200 as a freshman. Moreover, she led a massive 113-point effort for Tennessee in the event, vaulting the Lady Vols back ahead of Florida into second place.
Second place went to Texas’ Eva Okaro in 46.77, a little bit off her 46.49 performance from midseason that sits fifth in the country. Third went to Alabama’s Cadence Vincent in 47.06.
Event 36 Women 100 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 44.71 3/22/2025 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
SEC: S 45.83 2/22/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
Meet: M 45.83 2/22/2020 Erika Brown, Tennessee
Pool: P 45.61 3/18/2023 Gretchen Walsh, Virginia
48.60 NC
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Spink, Camille JR Tennessee-SE 46.47 46.01 NC 32
r:+0.65 10.22 21.64 (11.42)
33.74 (12.10) 46.01 (12.27)
2 Okaro, Eva FR Texas 47.09 46.77 NC 28
r:+0.68 10.57 22.20 (11.63)
34.55 (12.35) 46.77 (12.22)
3 Vincent, Cadenc JR Alabama-SE 47.53 47.06 NC 27
r:+0.67 10.77 22.42 (11.65)
34.62 (12.20) 47.06 (12.44)
4 De Villiers, Mi SR LSU-LA 47.74 47.53 NC 26
r:+0.68 10.76 22.63 (11.87)
35.03 (12.40) 47.53 (12.50)
5 Gemmell, Erin M JR Texas 47.92 47.78 NC 25
r:+0.71 11.01 22.98 (11.97)
35.56 (12.58) 47.78 (12.22)
6 Padar, Nikolett FR Texas 48.05 47.81 NC 24
r:+0.71 10.96 23.02 (12.06)
35.52 (12.50) 47.81 (12.29)
7 Klevanovich, Li GS Auburn-SE 47.92 48.17 NC 23
r:+0.71 11.00 23.06 (12.06)
35.64 (12.58) 48.17 (12.53)
8 Armen, Emily SO Tennessee-SE 48.19 48.42 NC 22
r:+0.66 11.14 23.19 (12.05)
35.68 (12.49) 48.42 (12.74)
Men’s 100 Freestyle
Upset alert in the men’s 100 free as LSU’s Jere Hribar and Tennessee’s Gui Caribe got the better of three-time NCAA champion Josh Liendo. Caribe had the most early speed, going out in 19.33 at the halfway point and then extending his margin on the third length, but Hribar covered the final 25 yards in 10.41 to steal the win by three hundredths.
Hribar touched in 40.42, with Caribe in 40.45. Hribar took down the SEC meet record set by both Liendo and former Tennessee standout Jordan Crooks last season. Liendo ended up third despite swimming a still-sensational time of 40.94. Those swimmers are the top-three men in the country thus far in the 2025-26 season. Hribar became the seventh-fastest performer in history in the event while Caribe ranks fourth (40.15) and Liendo third (39.99).
Event 37 Men 100 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 39.83 3/29/2025 Jordan Crooks, Tennessee
SEC: S 39.83 3/29/2025 Jordan Crooks, Tennessee
Meet: M 40.45 2/22/2025 J. Liendo & J. Crooks, Flor & Tenn
Pool: P 40.91 11/22/2025Gui Caribe, Tennessee
42.55 NC
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Hribar, Jere JR LSU-LA 41.16 40.42MNC 32
r:+0.70 9.17 19.44 (10.27)
30.01 (10.57) 40.42 (10.41)
2 Caribe, Gui C SR Tennessee-SE 41.20 40.45MNC 28
r:+0.57 8.97 19.33 (10.36)
29.88 (10.55) 40.45 (10.57)
3 Liendo, Josh SR FLOR-FL 41.21 40.94 NC 27
r:+0.65 9.17 19.55 (10.38)
30.35 (10.80) 40.94 (10.59)
4 Blackman, Nikol JR Tennessee-SE 41.75 41.70 NC 26
r:+0.63 9.20 19.60 (10.40)
30.55 (10.95) 41.70 (11.15)
5 Nebrich, Luke SO Missouri-MV 41.87 41.81 NC 25
r:+0.61 9.16 19.74 (10.58)
30.66 (10.92) 41.81 (11.15)
6 Gould, Garrett SO Texas 41.86 41.82 NC 24
r:+0.63 9.18 19.66 (10.48)
30.69 (11.03) 41.82 (11.13)
7 Painter, Alex J SO FLOR-FL 41.81 41.84 NC 23
r:+0.61 9.10 19.70 (10.60)
30.72 (11.02) 41.84 (11.12)
8 Dilger, Devin J SO FLOR-FL 41.90 42.03 NC 22
r:+0.67 9.46 20.00 (10.54)
30.99 (10.99) 42.03 (11.04)
Women’s 200 Backstroke
Florida junior Catie Choate secured the first SEC title in her career while jumping under the 1:50-barrier for the first time. Choate was the top seed after prelims, and she pulled clear of the field by almost a second at the halfway point. The margin only grew down the stretch, and she reached the wall in 1:49.94. That made Choate the sixth-fastest woman in the country this season, giving her a real chance at a championship-final appearance on the national level after placing 10th a season ago.
Alabama’s Emily Jones sat in second place for much of the race, but Texas’ Sara Rodriguez came through on the back end, nearly matching Choate on those splits, to take second in 1:51.46. Jones ended up third in 1:52.35.
Event 38 Women 200 Yard Backstroke
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 1:46.82 3/22/2025 Claire Curzan, Virginia
SEC: S 1:47.11 3/22/2025 Bella Sims, Florida
Meet: M 1:48.06 2/22/2020 Rhyan White, Alabama
Pool: P 1:46.87 11/22/2024Claire M Curzan, Virginia
1:54.80 NC
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Choate, Catie G JR FLOR-FL 1:50.85 1:49.94 NC 32
r:+0.68 25.73 53.23 (27.50)
1:21.36 (28.13) 1:49.94 (28.58)
2 Rodrigues, Sara FR Texas 1:51.95 1:51.46 NC 28
r:+0.83 26.55 54.67 (28.12)
1:22.84 (28.17) 1:51.46 (28.62)
3 Jones, Emily SR Alabama-SE 1:52.98 1:52.35 NC 27
r:+0.58 25.87 54.20 (28.33)
1:23.25 (29.05) 1:52.35 (29.10)
4 Riordan, Amy L SR South Carolina-S 1:52.60 1:52.80 NC 26
r:+0.59 26.38 54.55 (28.17)
1:23.36 (28.81) 1:52.80 (29.44)
5 Rathwell, Regan SR Tennessee-SE 1:52.84 1:52.89 NC 25
r:+0.57 26.46 54.65 (28.19)
1:23.70 (29.05) 1:52.89 (29.19)
6 Nesty, Lillian SO Texas 1:53.21 1:53.68 NC 24
r:+0.73 26.98 55.53 (28.55)
1:24.56 (29.03) 1:53.68 (29.12)
7 Stephens, Lexi SO Tennessee-SE 1:53.55 1:54.50 NC 23
r:+0.67 26.86 55.52 (28.66)
1:24.67 (29.15) 1:54.50 (29.83)
8 McDonald, Haley FR Texas 1:52.94 1:55.36 22
r:+0.68 26.37 55.07 (28.70)
1:25.16 (30.09) 1:55.36 (30.20)
Men’s 200 Backstroke
The man who has dominated the 200 backstroke globally for the past three seasons could not keep pace in this conference final as Jonny Marshall pulled off an upset win over Hubert Kos. Marshall is long established among the speediest backstrokers in college swimming, and he jumped on the pace early, going up on the field by almost a second at the halfway point, then by 1.5 seconds with 50 yards to go. Marshall faded but held on to touch in 1:36.38 for the win, four tenths clear of Texas’ Hubert Kos.
Kos was in the second half of a grueling double after winning the 200 IM earlier in the evening. Kos showed signs of fatigue in the early going as he was in sixth place after 50 yards and fourth at the halfway point. He came back strong, splitting 24.45 on the final 50, but it was not enough to catch Marshall. He finished in 1:36.80, well off the NCAA record of 1:34.21 he set last season.
Alabama’s Tommy Hagar finished third in 1:38.40 after clocking 1:37.92 in prelims. Florida’s Aiden Norman was just behind in 1:38.60. The swims by Marshall, Kos and Hagar rank as the top three efforts in the country thus far this season while Norman is fifth, with Virginia’s David King the only non-SEC swimmer among the top-five.
Event 39 Men 200 Yard Backstroke
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 1:34.21 3/29/2025 Hubert Kos, Texas
SEC: S 1:34.21 3/29/2025 Hubert Kos, Texas
Meet: M 1:35.85 2/22/2025 Jonny Marshall, Florida
Pool: P 1:37.87 12/5/2013 Arkady Vyatchanin, NY Aquatics
1:42.14 NC
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== Championship Final ===
1 Marshall, Jonny JR FLOR-FL 1:38.35 1:36.38PNC 32
r:+0.71 22.22 46.47 (24.25)
1:10.82 (24.35) 1:36.38 (25.56)
2 Kos, Hubert SR Texas 1:38.18 1:36.80PNC 28
r:+0.93 23.20 48.18 (24.98)
1:12.35 (24.17) 1:36.80 (24.45)
3 Hagar, Tommy E JR Alabama-SE 1:37.92 1:38.40 NC 27
r:+0.62 22.69 47.30 (24.61)
1:12.33 (25.03) 1:38.40 (26.07)
4 Norman, Aiden R SO FLOR-FL 1:39.96 1:38.60 NC 26
r:+0.71 22.87 47.75 (24.88)
1:13.14 (25.39) 1:38.60 (25.46)
5 Modglin, Will C JR Texas 1:39.16 1:39.62 NC 25
r:+0.67 22.55 47.93 (25.38)
1:13.35 (25.42) 1:39.62 (26.27)
6 Simons, Nick F SR Tennessee-SE 1:39.07 1:40.21 NC 24
r:+0.64 22.93 48.35 (25.42)
1:14.41 (26.06) 1:40.21 (25.80)
7 Witmer, Cole C SO Alabama-SE 1:39.64 1:41.11 NC 23
r:+0.73 23.76 49.40 (25.64)
1:15.36 (25.96) 1:41.11 (25.75)
8 Peck, Kyle SO Texas 1:40.10 1:41.31 NC 22
r:+0.64 23.83 50.06 (26.23)
1:16.05 (25.99) 1:41.31 (25.26)
Women’s Platform Diving
Women’s 400 Freestyle Relay
Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay