UF S&D: Gator Women Earn All-American Honors on First Night of NCAAs

Nikonova, Bates, Mathieu, Cronk finish sixth in the 800 free relay

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 6 Florida Gators swimming and diving team of Ekaterina Nikonova, Talia Bates, Tylor Mathieu, and Micayla Cronk started off the 2023 Women’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships with a sixth-place finish, clocking a 6:57.22 in the 800 free relay to earn All-American status and 26 points following the opening night.

The time of 6:57.22 was just off the second-fastest time in program history that the same relay team put forth at last year’s NCAA Championships (6:56.96).

Cronk’s anchor split of 1:43.53 was the fastest split of the evening for Florida, pushing the Gators past Indiana for sixth. Nikonova started off the race with a 1:43.83, followed by Bates at 1:44.38, and Mathieu’s third leg of 1:45.98.

Florida’s 200 medley relay team of Aris Runnels, Nina Kucheran, Olivia Peoples and Katie Mack were disqualified following an early start. The team’s 1:35.25 would’ve put them ninth.

The Gators will dive into individual events during tomorrow’s preliminary session, starting at 10 a.m. Anna Auld, Tylor Mathieu, Hayden Miller, Emma Weyant and Mabel Zavaros will all compete in the first race of the morning, the 500 free.

Zoe Dixon and Kathleen Golding will swim in the 200 IM, followed by appearances from Cronk and Mack in the 50 free.

Maha Amer will compete in the 1-meter springboard following the swim events. Amer claimed silver in the event at last month’s SEC Championships.

Live results for Thursday can be found here <https://swimmeetresults.tech/NCAA-Division-I-Women-2023/> or on the MeetMobile app. Both sessions, and every session for the rest of the 2023 Women’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, will be streamed on ESPN+.

Thursday – Prelims at 10 a.m. | Finals at 6 p.m.
500 Free
200 IM
50 Free
1-Meter Diving
200 Free Relay
Friday – Prelims at 10 a.m. | Finals at 6 p.m.
400 IM
100 Fly
200 Free
100 Breast
100 Back
3-Meter Diving
400 Medley Relay
Saturday – Prelims at 10 a.m. | Finals at 6 p.m.
200 Back
100 Free
200 Breast
200 Fly
Platform Diving
400 Free Relay