The Gators’ swimming and diving team started their season off right by leading the men and women’s standings on day one of the All-Florida Invitational.
The women collected five first-place finishes for 317 points. The men finished with three wins and 320 points. The Gator crews swept both 200 IM events and finished first in the 500 free and 400 medley.
Sophomore Elizabeth Beisel (North Kingstown, R.I.) had two victories and contributed to a third in the 400-yard medley relay that also included Sarah Bateman (Orlando, Fla.), Hilda Luthersdottiir (Hafnarjordur, Iceland), and Teresa Crippen (Conshohocken, Pa.). Bateman had two NCAA “B” cut times in her wins in the 500 free (4:24.00) and 200 IM (1:58.05).
Gators senior Sarah Bateman picked up an NCAA “B” cut time in her win in the 50 yard freestyle (22.90) and contributed to the 200 freestyle relay team with Alana Pazevic (Mill Creek, Wash.), Ellese Zalewski (Melbourne, Australia), and Kaitlin Frehling (St. Petersburg, Fla.).
Crippen had a NCAA “B” cut time in the 200 IM (2:02.72) as did Jamie Bohunicky (Gainesville, Fla.) in the 500 free (4:47.20).
The three Gator freshmen who were impressive in their NCAA debut were Matt Elliott (Peoria, Ill.), Carlos Omana (Miami, Fla.) and Eduardo Solaeche (Madrid, Spain), each earning a NCAA “B” cut time in their events. Omana picked up his first victory in the 500 free (4:24.43). In the 200 IM, Elliot (1:48.75) finished second and Solaeche (1:49.08) finished third.
The Gators’ sophomore Marcin Cieslak (Warsaw, Poland) won the 200 IM (1:48.49) also put up a NCAA “B” cut time. The other UF NCAA “B” cut time came from Junior Jason Taylor (Plant City, Fla.) who was second in the 500 free, posted a 4:24.52.
The All-Florida Invitational will continue Saturday and conclude Sunday.
Women’s Team Rankings Through Day 1 – Event 12
1. University of Florida 317
2. Florida State University 273
3. Florida Gulf Coast University 200
4. University of Miami 183
5. Florida Atlantic University 91
6. Florida International Univ. 90
7. University of North Florida 40
8. Florida Southern College 29
9. Nova Southeastern University 17
Men’s Team Rankings Through Day 1 – Event 12
1. University of Florida 320
2. Florida State University 306
3. Florida Atlantic University 219
4. Florida Southern College 142
5. Nova Southeastern University 136
6. University of Miami 20
Gator Country reporter Sara Ladwig can be reached at sladwig@gatorcountry.com