Florida Opens Season With Wins Over FAU (Men), Vanderbilt (Women)
The University of Florida began its season Saturday with a pair of meets, the women racing in Nashville against SEC rival Vanderbilt while the men traveled to take on Florida Atlantic. Both teams won every event in their respective competitions, the men getting a 232-63 victory over FAU while the women dispatched Vandy 206-55.
Ahmed Jaouadi, who became the fastest swimmer ever in the 1650 freestyle last March, put up back-to-back victories in the 1000 free (8:57.88) and 200 free (1:37.42). Jonny Marshall followed with a first-place finish in the 100 backstroke while Nil Cadevall picked up three individual wins, in the 100 breast (53.39), 200 breast (1:58.06) and 200 IM (1:49.66). Devin Dilger was victorious in both the 50 freestyle (19.36) and 100 free (43.82).
The 200 butterfly went to Matthew Cairns in 1:46.88 while Aiden Norman beat the field in the 200 back by more than four seconds with his time of 1:44.72. Luke Corey picked up first in the 500 free (4:30.51), and Tai Pearson surpassed the field in the 100 fly (47.67). In relay action, Marshall, Cadevall, Scotty Buff and Dilger clocked 1:25.48 for first in the 200 medley relay while Marshall, Buff, Dilger and Paul Dardis topped the 400 free relay in 2:57.45.
In diving, Jesus Agundez Mora won 1-meter (352.58) while Jesus Gonzalez placed first on 3-meter (349.88). The women’s diving team also competed against FAU, with Camyla Monroy placing first in both 1-meter (316.58) and 3-meter (320.70).
Five different Florida women had two individual wins apiece in the victory over Vanderbilt. Valentina Procaccini handled business in the longer freestyle races, topping the 1000 (9:52.75) and 500 (4:52.26). Julie Brousseau got to the wall first in both the 200 free (1:48.64) and 200 IM (2:01.96) while Catie Choate won the 100 back (53.25) and 200 back (1:56.56).
Maddie Moreth grabbed the top spots in both the 100 breast (1:01.91) and 200 breast (2:15.05), and Beatriz Bezerra was dominant in the 50 free (22.45) and 100 fly (54.36). Additionally for the Gators, Lainy Kruger came home first in the 200 fly (2:02.99), and Sylvia Statkevicius won the 100 free (50.69). Choate, Moreth, Bezerra and Statkevicius finished first in the 200 medley relay (1:39.42) while the team of Kruger, Bezerra, Statkevicius and Choate swam a time of 3:21.81 for first in the 400 free relay.