The LSU swimming and diving teams left Monday for the Southeastern Conference Championships in Auburn, Ala. The four-day meet begins today and includes nine women’s teams and eight men’s teams.
Last year Florida took home the SEC title in the women’s competition, followed by Georgia and Auburn. Auburn won the men’s event with Florida coming in second and Georgia in third.
In 2002, LSU finished fifth in the women’s competition led by senior Mandy Leach, who has finished her eligibility.
Junior Stephanie Smith, the LSU record holder in the 1650-yard freestyle, finished seventh in the event last year in her first season of collegiate competition and returns to improve on that position. She also finished seventh in the 500-yard freestyle in last year’s competition.
The LSU men’s team finished eighth last year at theº championships.
Junior All-American Evan Martinec leads the 2003 men’s team and was recently voted SEC Athlete of the Week.
“Evan Martinec had possibly the best meet of his career by winning three events to lead LSU in men’s action [against Kentucky],” the SEC Web site said Feb. 4.
Martinec took fourth in the 100-yard backstroke at last season’s SEC championships and was the highest SEC finisher in the event at the NCAAs. He owns the LSU record in the 100-yard backstroke.
LSU diver Barb Gorst defends her 2002 SEC title in the platform competition Saturday. Last season she earned the 2002 SEC Female Diver of the Year after winning the event.
The competition begins with the 1 and 3-meter diving events and will conclude Saturday with the final heats of the men and women’s swimming events.