DALLAS – The SMU men’s and women’s teams claimed the lead at the halfway point of the 2022 American Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships following finals action on Thursday night at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium in Dallas.
 
SMU scored 439 points in the men’s competition after two days to place ahead of Cincinnati with 328 points. SMU vaulted ahead of five-time defending women’s champion Houston with 364 points after session three, with the Cougars in second place with 353.5 points. Tulane was third with 211 points, Cincinnati was fourth with 182 points and East Carolina was fifth with 99.5 points in the women’s standings.
 
Lilly Byrne brought home the first freestyle event victory for Tulane in American meet history, capturing the gold medal in the women’s 500 freestyle with a time of 4:47.03. SMU’s Ilektra Lebl was the silver medalist with a time of 4:48.60, followed by teammate Frederica Kizek in third place with a 4:49.39 showing.
 
Cincinnati’s Michael Balcerak defended his individual championship in the men’s 500 freestyle, turning in a winning swim of 4:20.84. SMU’s Robby King placed second with a time of 4:22.41 and Cincinnati’s Kevin Leibold was third following an effort of 4:23.92.
 
Gabi Grobler claimed the first SMU gold medal in the women’s 200 IM since 2016, clocking the only time sub-2:00 with a victorious effort of 1:58.33. Cincinnati’s Camryn Streid (2:00.02) and Erin Shema (2:01.00) joined Grobler on the podium in second and third place, respectively.
 
SMU picked up a second straight men’s 200 IM title, with Cotton Fields establishing a meet record time of 1:44.63 on his way to victory. The Mustangs swept the medals in the event as Jack Easton took the silver medal with a time of 1:44.86 and defending champion Colin Feehery touched the wall with an even 1:45.00 for third.
 
Johanna Gudmundsdottir grabbed the win for SMU in a speedy women’s 50 freestyle final, snatching first place with a time of :22.74. Cincinnati’s Jessica Davis finished second with a time of :22.89 and Houston’s Katie Power locked up third place with a time of :22.93.
 
SMU’s Justin Baker made a run at the meet record for the second straight season in the men’s 50 freestyle, defending his championship with a time of :19.66. Cole Bruns was second for SMU with a time of :20.03, and Lance Butler and Riley Hill completed the sweep for the Mustangs as co-bronze medalists with a matching time of :20.09.
 
Nicole Stambo defended the women’s 1-meter diving championship for SMU with a score of 297.85 points. Houston’s Emilia Waters earned second place with 289.65 points and Chase Farris rounded out the podium for the Cougars in third place with 287.50 points.
 
SMU was victorious in the women’s 200 freestyle relay after a six-year absence from the winner’s circle in the event. The Mustang entry of Gudmundsdottir, Grobler, Indra Vandenbussche and Alexandra Stevens won the gold medal with a time of 1:30.32. Houston’s Power, Mary Catherine Jurica, Rachel Hicks and Emma Wright were second with a time of 1:31.45 and Cincinnati’s Davis, Kaylee Nagel, Mary Chelovitz and Maddie Exton placed third in 1:32.34.
 
SMU broke the longstanding meet record in the men’s 200 freestyle relay that was established by Louisville in 2014 on the way to an event victory. Baker, Bruns, Butler and Hill took the top spot in conference meet history in the event with a time of 1:18.19. Cincinnati’s Dominic Polling, Drew Hawthorne, Murat Sagdullaev and Matthew Brunsky posted a time of 1:20.30.
 
The third day of the American Swimming and Diving Championships will begin at 10 a.m. (CT) on Friday with prelim action on ESPN+. The Friday finals session is set to commence at 6 p.m. (CT).
 
Men’s Teams Scores
1. SMU – 439
2. Cincinnati – 328
 
Women’s Teams Scores
1. SMU – 364
2. Houston – 353.5
3. Tulane – 211
4. Cincinnati – 182
5. East Carolina – 99.5
 
Championships Schedule:
 
Friday, February 18 (ESPN+)
Swimming Prelims: 10 A.M. (CT) (ESPN+) | Diving Prelims: 12:30 P.M. (CT) | Finals: 6:00 P.M. (CT) (ESPN+)

Event #16 3-Meter Diving PRELIM Men
Event #16 3-Meter Diving CONSOLS Men
Event #17 400 Yard IM Women
Event #18 400 Yard IM Men
Event #19 100 Yard Butterfly Women
Event #20 100 Yard Butterfly Men
Event #21 200 Yard Freestyle Women
Event #22 200 Yard Freestyle Men
Event #23 100 Yard Breaststroke Women
Event #24 100 Yard Breaststroke Men
Event #25 100 Yard Backstroke Women
Event #26 100 Yard Backstroke Men
Event #16 3-Meter Diving FINALS Men
Event #27 400 Yard Medley Relay Women
Event #28 400 Yard Medley Relay Men

Saturday, February 19 (ESPN+)
Swimming Prelims: 10 A.M. (CT) (ESPN+) | Diving Prelims: 12:30 P.M. (CT) | Finals: 5:00 P.M. (CT) (ESPN+)

Event #30 Platform Diving PRELIMS Women
Event #29 Platform Diving PRELIMS Men
Event #31 1,650 Yard Freestyle Women
Event #32 1,650 Yard Freestyle Men
Event #30 Platform Diving FINALS Women
Event #33 200 Yard Backstroke Women
Event #34 200 Yard Backstroke Men
Event #35 100 Yard Freestyle Women
Event #36 100 Yard Freestyle Men
Event #37 200 Yard Breaststroke Women
Event #38 200 Yard Breaststroke Men
Event #39 200 Yard Butterfly Women
Event #40 200 Yard Butterfly Men
Event #29 Platform Diving FINALS Men
Event #41 400 Yard Freestyle Relay Women
Event #42 400 Yard Freestyle Relay Men