Auburn Women, Florida Men Notch Dual Meet Victories

AUBURN, Alabama, January 26. IN what was deemed a preview of what's to come next month at the Southeastern Conference championships, Auburn University and the University of Florida waged war in men's and women's dual meet competition, with the Auburn women and Florida men coming away victorious.

Though Florida's Elizabeth Beisel scored three individual wins, it wasn't enough, as Auburn won the women's meet 161-138. On the men's side, a surprise win in the 400 free relay and a triple victory by Marcin Cieslak helped Florida beat the Auburn men 167-133.

Auburn's meet victory was greatly helped by wins in the 200 medley and 400 free relays, as well as six individual event victories. Hannah Riordan was the only double winner for the Tiger women, taking both sprint freestyles. First, she won the 50 free in 22.74 before winning the 100 free with a 49.35.

Olympian Micah Lawrence won her specialty, the 200 breaststroke, with a 2:11.49. Olivia Scott, currently the top swimmer in the country in the 100 fly, won that event with a 53.23.

Emily Bos won the 100 back with a 53.78, while Lauren Norberg won the 100 breast with a 1:00.75.

Beisel's three wins came in the 200 fly (1:58.01), 200 back (1:54.60) and 200 IM (1:56.08). Beisel picked up an Olympic bronze medal in the 200 back in London, and won silver in the 400 IM. She is also the reigning 200 backstroke NCAA champion.

Beisel was joined in the triple-win club today by teammate Jess Thielmann who won the distance events for the Gators. She posted a 9:40.85 in the 1000 free, and followed it up with a 4:47.18 in the 500.

Lindsey McKnight was the other event winner for Florida today, taking the 200 free in 1:48.18, leading a Florida 1-2-3 sweep of the event.

In the men's meet, Cieslak was the standout. He won the 200 fly (1:45.96), 100 fly (47.65) and 200 IM (1:46.99). And though Auburn is known for its prowess in the 100 freestyle through history, Florida was able to gain the upper hand in the 400 free relay, winning with a 2:54.94 to Auburn's 2:56.59. The first three legs of Florida's relay all split in the 43-second range. Auburn's Marcelo Chierighini provided a sparkling leadoff leg with a 43.33, bettering the 43.36 he swam to win the individual 100 free.

Freshman Pawel Werner also performed well, putting together a 1:36.42 to win the 200 free. His freshman teammate Arthur Frayler also scored winning points with a victory in the 1000 free with a 9:02.95.

Matt Elliott's 1:58.39 to win the 200 breast and Jason Taylor's 4:25.33 win in the 500 free also were keys in the Gators' victory.

Besides Chierighini's 100 free win, Auburn was victorious in three other individual events, as well as the 200 medley relay. Kyle Owens doubled up on wins in both backstrokes (47.28, 1:44.84), while Stuart Ferguson got to the all first in the 100 breast with a 54.46.

Auburn won all four diving events. Fraser McKean swept the 1-meter and 3-meter events on the men's side, while Cinzia Calabretta captured the same events on the women's side.

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