The University of Florida women’s swimming and diving team was able to best LSU 171-122 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Saturday afternoon. This was Florida’s third consecutive SEC-opening victory and continued their unbeaten streak.
Angelina Ballatore (Gainesville, Fla.) posted a 4:56.92 to win the 500 free. She was followed by teammates Lauren Neidigh (Ornage Park, Fla.) and Kristen Smith (Cary, N.C.) who finished with times of 4:56.92 and 4:57.59, respectively. The Gators took the top three spots in the 1,000 free. Alicia Mathieu (Marlborough, Conn.) won with a 9:57.47. Sharla Milne (Lithia, Fla.) came in second with a 10:02.74 and Neidigh followed with a 10:08.25.
Jamie Bohunicky (Gainesville, Fla.) took home the 50 free with a 23.52 time. Sarah Bateman (Orlando, Fla.) had a NCAA “B” cut time of 1:02.51 in the 100 breast.
Alana Pazevic (Mill Creek, Wash.) was victorious in the 100 back (56.41). Teresa Crippen (Conshohocken, Pa.) finished first in the 200 back. Hilda Luthersdottir (Hafnarfjorud, Iceland) won the 200 breast with a 2:17.46 time.
Elizabeth Beisel (North Kingstown, R.I.), Luthersdottir, Crippen and Bateman were the fantastic four for the Gators to finish first in the 400 medley (3:44.96). Beisel, Crippen, Bateman and Bohunicky joined up to be victorious in the 400 freestyle relay with a 3:24.41.
From the diving boards, Dainelle Risley (Jacksonville, Fla.) was the winner in the one- and three-meter dives. Risley had a 282.00 in the one-meter event and a 296.63 on the three-meter boards. Kaylee Doback (Brandon, Fla.) earned a 289.85 to finish second in the three-meter event and had a 250.95 on the one-meter boards.
The Gators will make a splash next when they travel to Arkansas to face the Razorbacks on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Gator Country reporter Sara Ladwig can be reached at sladwig@gatorcountry.com