UF M S&D | Gators Claim National Championship in 200 Medley Relay on Day 1 of NCAAs

ATLANTA – The first night of NCAA competition was short, but sweet for the Gator men as they claimed both a National Championship and All-America honors.

The Gators secured their first National Championship of the meet in the 200 medley relay and followed that up with an All-American worthy seventh-place finish in the 800 free relay. This is the first time in program history that the men have won the national championship in the 200 MR.

The 200 medley relay put on an absolute show Wednesday night, setting a new NCAA, US Open and Pool record with a time of 1:21.13. Adam Chaney led off with a 20.19 backstroke leg, followed by a 23.20 breaststroke split from Dillon Hillis. Eric Friese finished his fly leg with a 19.36 split, while Will Davis closed out with an 18.38 freestyle split.

Chaney’s split was the third-fastest 50 back of all time, while Friese’s 19.36 fly split is tied with Joseph Schooling for the fastest fly split ever.

Though both Florida’s and Texas’s times in the 200 MR were faster than the previous American record (Cal – 2018), that still stands with international swimmers on both teams.

The Gator quartet of Kieran Smith, Trey Freeman, Oskar Lindholm and Alfonso Mestre earned All-America honors in the 800 free relay after finishing seventh overall with a time of 6:09.01.

Smith led off with a 1:30.66 split, the fastest of the bunch, while Trey Freeman followed with a 1:32.63 on the second leg. Oskar Lindholm registered a split of 1:33.61 and Alfonso Mestre anchored with a time of 1:32.11.

Mestre’s time of 1:32.11 puts him fifth in school history.

Florida begins individual events during Thursday’s preliminary session, slated for a 10 a.m. start with 17 Gators competing. Kieran Smith, Alfonso Mestre, Trey Freeman, Tyler Watson, Bobby Finke, Oskar Lindholm, Nicholas Hernandez-Tome, Jack VanDeusen and Jace Crawford kicking off the day in the 500 free.

Kevin Vargas, Mason Laur and Dillon Hillis will follow in the 200 IM, while Adam Chaney, Will Davis, Macguire McDuff and Eric Friese are set to compete in the 50 free.

Leonardo Garcia will compete in the 1-meter springboard following the swimming events.

Live results for Thursday can be found here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__swimmeetresults.tech_NCAA-2DDivision-2DI-2DMen-2D2022_&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=no2Q-gARFd4A5cNhCZko-ma0PQZZ39PoggEFnOFElQ01TgbnvaqzmLL9hMRjD61E&s=yeAZuDXPEbnKL0vDRO_JemTlTJBueQtE-AoSYIWjl74&e= > or on the Meet Mobile app, as well as on FloridaGators.com at the conclusion of competition each day.

Video links for prelims and finals sessions are available on the Championship Central<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ramblinwreck.com_2022-2Dncaa-2Ddivision-2Di-2Dmens-2Dswimming-2Ddiving-2Dchampionships_&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=no2Q-gARFd4A5cNhCZko-ma0PQZZ39PoggEFnOFElQ01TgbnvaqzmLL9hMRjD61E&s=DxMWz58KnNMAFyDEXR0PyWXEN7M8jCrepZ5PjLjLR3Y&e= > webpage.

Thursday’s Individual Competitors

* 500 free: Kieran Smith, Alfonso Mestre, Trey Freeman, Tyler Watson, Bobby Finke, Oskar Lindholm, Nicholas Hernandez-Tome, Jack VanDeusen, Jace Crawford
* 200 IM: Kevin Vargas, Mason Laur, Dillon Hillis
* 50 free: Adam Chaney, Will Davis, Macguire McDuff, Eric Friese
* 1-meter diving: Leonardo Garcia

Schedule of Events

* All prelims are set to start at 10 a.m. ET
* All finals are set to start at 6 p.m. ET
* Day 2 – Thursday, March 24
* 500 free
* 200 IM
* 50 free
* 1-meter diving
* 200 free relay (finals only)
* Day 3 – Friday, March 25
* 400 IM
* 100 fly
* 200 free
* 100 breast
* 100 back
* 3-meter diving
* 400 medley relay (finals only)
* Day 4 – Saturday, March 26
* 200 back
* 100 free
* 200 breast
* 200 fly
* Platform diving
* 1650 free (3:45 p.m. start)
* 400 free relay (finals only)

Standings

1. Texas – 74
2. Florida – 64
3. California – 61
4. NC State – 57
5. Stanford – 54
6. Arizona State – 54
7. Louisville – 46
8. Georgia – 34
9. Alabama – 30
10. Virginia Tech – 28

Up Next

* Thursday’s prelim session is set to begin at 10 a.m.
* Live video can be found on ESPN3<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3Dbbdc3e3a-2Defb3-2D481b-2Dbd58-2D668d7f6f1fb4&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=no2Q-gARFd4A5cNhCZko-ma0PQZZ39PoggEFnOFElQ01TgbnvaqzmLL9hMRjD61E&s=oC2MygcI7sXCaEC4D3RjxHIF1zeoSerN1CV4BN_dfA0&e= >
* Live results can be found here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__swimmeetresults.tech_NCAA-2DDivision-2DI-2DMen-2D2022_&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=no2Q-gARFd4A5cNhCZko-ma0PQZZ39PoggEFnOFElQ01TgbnvaqzmLL9hMRjD61E&s=yeAZuDXPEbnKL0vDRO_JemTlTJBueQtE-AoSYIWjl74&e= > or on the Meet Mobile app
* Diving will begin at 12:15 p.m.
* Live Results can be found on DiveMeets<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__secure.meetcontrol.com_divemeets_system_index.php&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=no2Q-gARFd4A5cNhCZko-ma0PQZZ39PoggEFnOFElQ01TgbnvaqzmLL9hMRjD61E&s=owqOPexNFDno3CUdXcGoXc4hK7y–8j9rMasWTQNozo&e= >
* Live video can be found on ESPN3<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_catalog_904ff2f3-2D3ce3-2D3b9e-2Dbca9-2D3608ec5f616b_swimming-2Dand-2Ddiving-23bucketId-3D29774-26sourceCollection-3DBrowse-5FBy-5FSport-5FNew&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=no2Q-gARFd4A5cNhCZko-ma0PQZZ39PoggEFnOFElQ01TgbnvaqzmLL9hMRjD61E&s=5v0cq3d-MNzc0hr5AOeWsO-yL6_9n0YJgl_1l7rj-qU&e= >
* Thursday’s finals session is slated for a 6 p.m. start
* Live video can be found on ESPN3<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3Dc4310934-2D8569-2D444a-2Da0fe-2D1ad340ca6211&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=no2Q-gARFd4A5cNhCZko-ma0PQZZ39PoggEFnOFElQ01TgbnvaqzmLL9hMRjD61E&s=URShm7FefzoN6ooIMeFxNgdoSnDRpMV8agWuJL17ImI&e= >
* Live results can be found here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__swimmeetresults.tech_NCAA-2DDivision-2DI-2DWomen-2D2022_&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=no2Q-gARFd4A5cNhCZko-ma0PQZZ39PoggEFnOFElQ01TgbnvaqzmLL9hMRjD61E&s=SnxFz0irzIiYQN3pU8ZvLU_vrFsctSufVHg5OAAMer8&e= > or on the Meet Mobile app