Gators conclude U.S. Open with eight titles.
GREENSBORO, NC. – For a second-straight day, the Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams won three titles, as Aleksas Savickas, Alfonso Mestre, and Katie Ledecky all secure gold on the final day of the 2022 Toyota U.S. Open. The Gators finished with eight titles during the four-day meet (Ledecky-800m free, 400m free, 200m free; Savickas – 100m breast, 200m breast; Jake Mitchell – 200m free; Alfonso Mestre – 1500m free).
2023 signees Michaela Mattes, Josh Parent, Amadeusz Knop, Grace Rainey all competed on Saturday’s final night. Mattes finished third in the 1500m free, Parent claimed ninth in the 1500m free and third in the 200m fly B-final, Knop was fourth in the 200m back A-final, and Rainey placed sixth in the 200m breast A-final.
Finals:
1500m Free
Katie Ledecky took first by over 34 seconds, ending the week with four titles (800m free, 400m free, 200m free, 1500m free). The Gators volunteer coach clocked a 15:44.13.
Alfonso Mestre completed the Florida sweep of the event, placing first after a time of 15:16.51. Eric Brown took bronze in the event, touching the wall in 15:26.67.
200m Back
Jake Mitchell finished first in the B-final, swimming a 2:00.75, which would’ve finished in the top-three of the A-final.
100m Free
Joshua Liendo notched a second-place finish, touching the wall in 48.97 to improve on his prelim time. Alberto Mestre finished seventh in the A-final, while Mitchell was tied for fifth in the B-final.
200m Breast
Savickas finished his breast sweep Saturday night, adding the 200m breast to his accolades after swimming a 2:09.68, almost four seconds faster then his prelim time. In the B-final, Raphael Rached Windmuller finished fourth at 2:17.69.
Prelims:
200m Back
Mitchell was the lone Gator in the event, grabbing tenth for a B-final qualification at 2:02.90.
100m Free
Liendo snatched second overall with a time of 49.12, while Alberto Mestre’s 49.46 put him in fifth to qualify for the A-final. Mitchell (18th), Lindholm (19th), and Friese (22nd) all earned C-final spots.
200m Breast
Savickas earned an A-final appearance for the second straight day, finishing third at 2:13.86. Windmuller cemented a spot in the B-final after clocking a 2:18.82.
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