Caleb Dressel and Josh Liendo both medaled in the 100m butterfly.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators continued competition at the U.S. Open Championships on Friday, December 1. Former, current and future members of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving program secured two medals and twelve finals appearances in Friday’s action.
Caleb Dressel, who is the world record holder in the 100m butterfly, added another medal to his total in the event as he placed first on Friday. Dressel nabbed the victory courtesy of strong closing speed and his outstretched arm as he secured the victory by one one-hundredth of a second.
Josh Liendo also medaled in the 100m fly as he followed up his top qualifying time in the morning session with a bronze medal finish, marking his second medal of the U.S. Open Championships.
The other two Gators that participated in an A-Final in Friday’s action were Emma Weyant and Kieran Smith. Weyant finished just off the podium in the 400m IM as she placed fourth. Smith produced a fifth place outing in the 200m free.
Other Gators making finals appearances included: Eric Brown, Robert Finke, Bella Sims, Jake Mitchell and Adam Chaney.
Future Gators that appeared in a final on Friday are: Sofia Plaza, Addison Reese, and Luke Whitlock.
All results from Day 3 of the U.S. Open Championships can be found in the link below.
2023 U.S. Open Championships<https://www.omegatiming.com/2023/toyota-u-s-open-live-results>
Friday, December 1
Finals:
400m IM:
Women’s A-Final: Following a second-place finish in the prelims, current Junior Weyant recorded a fourth-place finish in the A-Final behind a mark of 4:42.11. Her time in the finals was a one second improvement from her prelim time earlier Friday morning.
Men’s B-Final: After finishing 13th in the prelims, Brown notched another impressive performance in the B-final as he recorded a 1st place finish swimming a 4:18.9. His time marked a five second improvement from the morning session. Finke participated in the B-final as well but was disqualified.
100m Butterfly:
Men’s A-Final: After finishing back to back (first and second) in the prelims, Liendo and Dressel collected two spots on the podium in the A-final. Dressel came out on top, recording a time of 51.31 which was 0.01 seconds faster the second-place finisher.
Liendo was not far behind as his 51.42 bronze medal finish was just 0.11 seconds behind Dressel and earned the Gators their second medal of the event and his second individual medal of the U.S. Open Championships.
200m Freestyle:
Men’s A-Final: Smith swam a steady race eventually ending in a fifth place finish. His time in the final of 1:47.08 was nearly a two second improvement from the prelims.
Men’s B-Final: Mitchell finished eighth logging a time of 1:50.10.
Friday, December 1 | Prelims:
Women’s 400m IM
1. Emma Weyant – 4:43.11 | Advanced to A-Final
1. Sofia Plaza – 4:55.14 | Advanced to C-Final
Men’s 400m IM
1. Eric Brown – 4:23.51 | Advanced to B-Final
2. Robert Finke – 4:23.61 | Advanced to B-Final
Women’s 100m Butterfly
1. Addison Reese – 1:00.80 | Advanced to C-Final
1. Bella Sims – 1:00.91 | Advanced to C-Final
Men’s 100m Butterfly
1. Josh Liendo – 51.71 | Top Qualifier and Advanced to A-Final
1. Caleb Dressel – 51.83 | Advanced to A-Final
Men’s 200m Freestyle
1. Kieran Smith – 1:48.11 | Advanced to A-Final
1. Jake Mitchell – 1:48.99 | Advanced to B-Final
1. Luke Whitlock – 1:49.88 | Advanced to C-Final
1. Mark Szaranek – 1:52.44
1. Josh Liendo – 1:53.01 | Tied
1. Macguire McDuff – 1:53.01 | Tied
Women’s 100m Breaststroke
1. Molly Mayne – 1:11.86
1. Addison Reese – 1:13.11
1. Gracie Weyant – 1:13.34
Women’s 100m Backstroke
1. Bella Sims – 1:02.48
Men’s 100m Backstroke
1. Adam Chaney – 55.84 | Advanced to C-Final
Italics indicates Gator signee.
Underline indicates former Gator.
