Florida was the first Southeastern Conference team to compete in the new year. The Florida men and women opened up 2016 with wins over Florida State University, an in-state rival. The meet took place in a long course meters pool.
The meet started with the women’s 400-meter medley relay. The Gators took first and second place in the event. The team of backstroker Georgia Hohmann, breaststroker Hannah Burns, butterflier Natalie Hinds and freestyler Ashlee Linn won with a time of 4:19.25.
The Gators were also victorious in the men’s event. The team of backstroker Corey Main, breaststroker Ross Palazzo, butterflier Ben Kennedy and freestyler Pawel Werner won in 3:52.59, a second ahead of Florida State.
Florida dominated in the 200-meter freestyle events. The Gators took first, second and third place in both the men’s and women’s races. Lindsey McKnight brought home the victory in a time of 2:05.01. Mitch D’Arrigo won the men’s race in 1:54.73.
Florida sophomore Caeleb Dressel started his day with an event he does not normally swim: the 100-meter backstroke. Dressel took second place with a time of 58.40. He also won the 100-meter butterfly in 54.18.
Hinds had a strong day for the Gator women. After helping Florida to a win in the 400-meter medley relay, the senior led the Gators to a sweep in the 100-meter freestyle. She won with a time of 57.65, over a second ahead of teammate Amelia Maughan.
Sophomore Jan Switkowski picked up two individual wins for the Gators. He won the 200-meter butterfly by nearly five seconds with a time of 2:01.30. The also took the 400-meter freestyle with a time of 4:01.54, leading the Gators to a sweep in the event.
The meet concluded with the 400-meter freestyle relay. The Gator women won the event by over four seconds, touching the wall in 3:55.31. The team consisted of Maughan, Mollie Pulte, Linn and Hinds.
The Florida men won their race by over five seconds. The team of Switkowski, Main, Dressel and Werner posted a time of 3:25.19.
The Gator women won by a score of 200-93. The men defeated the Seminoles 188-109.
2016 Florida vs Florida State Dual Meet – Results