University of Florida women, who led Cal by 101 points after Day One of the All-Florida Invite, are poised to add to their count tonight. Both they and the Golden Bears loaded up the swimming finals with their performance in prelims this morning, but the Gators also picked up 89 diving points.
The Florida men dominated most of the prelims on Day Two, with a few exceptions. The 37 points they added in diving will further distance themselves from Florida State and Nova Southeastern.
400 IM
Women (NCAA A=4:05.37, B=4:19.39)
Cal’s Elizabeth Pelton led the qualifiers in the 400 IM with a morning swim of 4:20.76. Florida’s Jessica Thielmann was second with 4:22.20, just ahead of Bears’ Kelly Naze.
Men (NCAA A=3:42.40, B=3:54.49)
Matt Elliott and Carlos Omana of Florida were the top two qualifiers out of the morning session with 3:57.05 and 3:57.94, respectively. Florida State’s Trevor Hine (4:08.59) had the fastest non-Gator swim.
100 Fly
Women (NCAA A=51.70, B=54.49)
Natalie Hinds was the lone Gator in the A final of the women’s 100 fly, but she was the fastest with a B cut of 54.04.Cal’s Noemie Thomas (54.19) also started her season with a B cut in the fly, while Cal teammate Jasmine Mau qualified third with 55.34. Florida State’s Chelsea Britt (55.36) and Bianca Spinazzola (55.94) should also make the A final.
Men (NCAA A=45.91, B=48.29)
Florida State’s Connnor Knight was the only entrant in the men’s race to pick up an NCAA cut in prelims; he went 47.86. Thiago Sickert of Nova Southeastern qualified second in 48.70, just ahead of Florida’s Caeleb Dressel (48.87).
200 Free
Women (NCAA A=1:43.90, B=1:47.99)
Defending NCAA champion and American Record-holder Missy Franklin swam a 1:48.83 to lead the field in the women’s 200 free. Florida’s Thielmann and Cal’s Camille Cheng put up a pair of 1:50s, while Florida State’s Kaitlyn Dressel led the 1:51s with 1:51.01.
Men (NCAA A=1:33.62, B=1:37.99)
Mitch D’Arrigo of Florida and his teammate Nicholas Alexiou went 1:38.37 and 1:38.51 to grab the top spots in the men’s prelims. Florida State’s Anthony Lyons (1:41.21) and Kevin Rogers (1:41.47) will battle them tonight.
100 Breast
Women (NCAA A=59.12, B=1:02.49)
It was a very tight prelims in the women’s 100 breast: the top eight all went 1:04s. Florida State’s Natalie Pierce led the way with 1:04.31, but Florida’s Lindsey McKnight (1:04.33) and Cal’s Marina Garcia Urzainqui (1:04.47) were right there with her.
Men (NCAA A=52.29, B=55.39)
Jason Coombs of Florida State got a B cut with his prelims swim of 54.67. Matt Elliott (56.44) and Erik Kahr (57.15) were the two fastest Gators.
100 Back
Women (NCAA A=51.63, B=55.09)
The top four qualifiers all picked up B cuts in the women’s 100 back: Kira Toussaint of Florida Gulf Coast led with 54.43, then came Ashlee Linn of Florida (54.73), Cal’s Franklin (55.00), and Sinead Russell of Florida (55.02).
Men (NCAA A=45.62, B=48.49)
Florida’s Jack Blyzinskyj (49.59) and Corey Main (49.76) were the only two sub-50s in the men’s race. Florida State’s Knight (50.56) and Sickert of NSU (50.64) were also among the A finalists.
Saturday prelims results here – 20141004 All Florida Invite saturday prelims results
Saturday diving results here – 20141004 All Florida Invite saturday diving results
Saturday finals heat sheets here – 20141004 All Florida Invite saturday finals heat sheet