Florida Maintains Lead After Day Two At All Florida Invite

Photo Credit: Griffin Scott

GAINESVILLE, Florida, October 4. THE University of Florida women’s and men’s swimming and diving teams maintained their leads in the team standings through two days of racing at the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational. With one day to go, the Florida women are in first with 720 points, followed by California (590) and Florida Gulf Coast (472). The Florida men lead with 960 points, with Florida State (646) and Nova Southeastern (468) in second and third. California’s Missy Franklin and Florida’s Matt Elliott led the way with two individual wins apiece tonight.

Florida State started off the night with a win in the women’s 200 medley relay, as Bianca Spinazzola, Natalie Pierce, Chelsea Britt and Kaitlyn Dressel cruised to a 1:40.91, about half a second in front of Cal’s Rachel Bootsma, Marina Garcia, Noemie Thomas and Farida Osmun (1:41.46). Meanwhile, the Florida foursome of Corey Main, Matt Elliott, Mark Szaranek and Caeleb Dressel touched first in the men’s relay in 1:28.61.

Cal’s Kelly Naze held off teammate Elizabeth Pelton for the win in the women’s 400 IM, 4:17.80 to 4:18.66. Jessica Thielmann of Florida finished third in 4:21.95. Cal’s Celina Li actually had the fastest time of the day, however, winning the B final in 4:17.79. Florida’s Matt Elliott dominated the men’s 400 IM, touching first by 10 seconds with a 3:51.04. Teammate Carlos Omana finished a distant second in 4:01.49, followed by Florida State’s Connor Kalisz in 4:05.15.

After winning the 50 free last night, Florida’s Natalie Hinds picked up another win in the 100 fly, edging Cal freshman Noemie Thomas for the victory, 53.44 to 53.82. Chelsea Britt of Florida State posted a 55.08 to finish third. Florida freshman Caeleb Dressel earned his first collegiate win in the men’s 100 fly, stopping the clock in 47.74. Nova Southeastern cracked the top three with Thiago Sickert taking second in 48.23. Connor Knight of Florida State rounded out the top three in 48.58.

Cal’s Missy Franklin ran away with the women’s 200 free title, touching first by more than three seconds in 1:46.37. Teammate Camille Cheng touched second in 1:49.42, followed by Florida State’s Kaitlyn Dressel in 1:50.04. Florida claimed the top three spots in the men’s 200 free final, with Pawel Werner (1:37.08), Mitch D’Arrigo (1:38.15) and Nicholas Alexiou (1:38.51) topping the podium.

The women’s 100 breast final came down to the last few yards, and Florida State’s Natalie Pierce got to the wall first in 1:03.66. Lindsey McKnight of Florida finished right behind in 1:03.83, followed by Florida Gulf Coast’s Evita Leter in 1:04.33. Matt Elliott earned his second win of the night for Florida, outlasting Florida State’s Jason Coombs in the men’s 100 breast, 54.72 to 54.97. Florida’s Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez placed third in 55.66.

Franklin earned her second win of the night in the women’s 100 back, stopping the clock in 54.05 to edge Florida’s Natalie Hinds (54.67) and Florida Gulf Coast’s Kira Toussaint (54.83). Florida’s Corey Main, last night’s 50 free champ, picked up a second win in the 100 back with his 48.45. Florida’s Jack Blyzinskyj (49.13) and Nova Southeastern’s Thiago Sickert (50.25) took second and third.

In diving action, Florida’s Kahlia Warner captured the women’s 3-meter title with 309.30 points, while teammate Zach Hernandez won the men’s 1-meter with 279.30.

Cal’s quartet of Caroline Piehl, Catherine Breed, Cierra Runge and Camille Cheng touched first in the women’s 800 free relay (7:20.65), while Florida’s Caeleb Dressel, Pawel Werner, Justin Kaisrlik and Mitch D’Arrigo brought home the men’s title in 6:35.42 to close out the night. The meet concludes tomorrow evening.

Results: Pinch A Penny All Florida Invite, Day Two

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