T&T's Nikoli Blackman swam the second leg for the University of Tennessee and countryman Zarek Wilson the final leg for the University of Alabama as they secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the men's 400-yard freestyle relay on the final night of the Southern Eastern Conference (SEC) Swimming and Diving Championship on Saturday night.
The championship took place at the James E Martin Aquatics Center in Auburn, Alabama, the former home of retired T&T swimmer George Bovell III, an Olympic medallist.
Guilherme Santos led off for the Tennessee Vols followed by Blackman, Micah Chambers, and Jordan Crooks of the Cayman Islands as they combined for a time of two minutes and 46.11 seconds, to finish behind champion the University of Florida who clocked 2:45.31, a new SEC championship record which eclipsed the 2009 mark of Auburn University.
Taking the bronze medal was the University of Alabama, led off by Kaique Alves, followed by Charlie Hawke, Tim Korstanje and Wilson for a time of 2:48.61.
On Friday, Blackman and Wilson finished in the second and third spots, respectively, in the 100-yard freestyle C-Final. The winner of the C-Final was the University of Florida's Adam Chaney in 42.42 with Blackman second in 42.54, and Wilson, third in 42.65.
In the morning heats Wilson was 18th best in 42.70, just ahead of countryman Blackman's 42.71.
In the 400-yard medley relay, Wilson swam the anchor leg for the University of Alabama behind Tommy Hagar, Michael Deans and Berardo De Almedia for a combined time of 3:07.49 and the eighth spot in the A-Final.
The University of Florida won gold in 3:00.49, a new pool record to better the 3:02.17 set in 2020 by the University of Alabama.
The University of Tennessee, the team of Blackman, was second in 3:01.27, and Auburn University, third in 3:03.96.
Overall, the University of Florida under the guidance of T&T-born Suriname Olympic gold medal swimmer Anthony Nesty took the overall men's title with 1,584 points, with Auburn University a distant second with 1,104, and the University of Georgia third with 1,042.
Texas A&M University ended in the fourth with 1006.5, and the University of Tennessee fifth with 992.
Louisiana State University was sixth with 553, the University of Alabama, seventh with 527.5 with Missouri eighth with 513, the University of South Carolina ninth with 442, and the University of Kentucky, tenth with 433.
