Bobby Finke and Katie Ledecky sweep the distance events
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – On the final night of the Phillips 66 National Championships, two Gator distancers found themselves on the podium.
Bobby Finke (800m free) and Katie Ledecky (1500m free) swept the distance events on Saturday night, winning national championships in both to close out the meet.
Bobby Finke ended up on the podium for the fourth time this meet after claiming the national title in the men’s 800m free on Saturday night. His time of 7:40.34 was both a US Open record and the fastest time in the world this year. The Gators had five other competitors in the event, with Gio Linscheer and Brennan Gravley finishing 21st and 24th with their times of 8:07.07 and 8:07.89, respectively. Bobby DiNunzio placed 33rd overall after touching the wall in 8:12.48, while Andrew Taylor (8:15.48) and Amadeusz Knop (8:24.73) finished 42nd and 45th, respectively.
Ledecky won her third national title of the week after defeating the field in the women’s 1500m free with her time of 15:29.64 – the fastest time in the world this year. She was followed by Florida incomer Michaela Mattes, who placed 15th with her swim of 16:33.74. Anna Auld posted a 19th place finish overall, going 16:37.27 in her heat, while Camille DeBoer clocked in at 17:05.64, good for 36th overall.
Incoming freshman Bella Sims recorded another strong showing in the 200m IM A-Final, finishing fifth with her time of 2:12.15. Isabel Ivey – in her third 200 IM swim of the day – placed eighth in Saturday night’s B-Final, swimming a 2:16.50.
Kieran Smith touched the wall fifth in the A-Final of the men’s 200m IM, shaving over a second off his prelim time from Saturday morning. Mason Laur ended his Phillips 66 meet with a sixth-place finish in the B-Final, posting a time of 2:00.63.
Adam Chaney won the men’s 50m free B-Final after going a 22.04 in the night session.
In the D-Final of the men’s 200m IM, incoming freshman Caleb Maldari placed second, improving upon his prelim time with a swim of 2:02.69.
The final swim of the night on the women’s side came from Bella Sims, who placed second in the 50m free D-Final with her time of 25.80.
Julian Smith ended the night for the Gators with his 22.81 in the C-Final of the men’s 50m free, touching the wall fourth in the race.
Prelims:
Women’s 200m IM
The Gators had three women compete in the prelims of the 200 individual medley, with incomer Bella Smith leading the way with her A-Final time of 2:13.61. Isabel Ivey was tied for eighth in the event after the prelim, having to compete in a swim-off, where she touched the wall in 2:14.03, good for a spot in the B-Final. Incoming freshman Lainy Kruger rounded out the Florida swimmers in the event, finishing 55th with her swim of 2:22.66.
Men’s 200m IM
On the men’s side of the event, Kieran Smith posted a fifth-place finish with his time of 1:59.14, securing his spot in the A-Final. Mason Laur followed closely behind with a swim of 2:00.64, good for 12th overall and a spot in the B-Final. Incoming freshmen Caleb Maldari (2:03.35) and Sean Sullivan (2:03.84), finished 37th and 40th, respectively, with Maldari earing his spot in the D-Final. Billy Jones was the final Gator to compete in the event, placing 51st with his time of 2:05.29.
Women’s 50m Free
Natalie Hinds led the charge for the women in the 50m free, placing 24th with her time of 25.53. Bella Sims found herself in the D-Final after finishing 35th with a 25.86 swim, while Micayla Cronk placed 52nd overall (26.25).
Men’s 50m Free
The final event of the morning was the men’s 50m free, where Adam Chaney posted the highest finish for Florida at 10th with his swim of 22.18. That put him in Saturday night’s B-Final. Caeleb Dressel (22.72) and Julian Smith (22.74) placed 22nd and 24th, respectively, with Smith taking his second swim in the C-Final. Rounding out the Gators was Scotty Buff, who placed 53rd with his time of 23.76.
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