The Florida State University Quad was a two-day, dual meet scored battle of Sunshine State schools, with FSU and Florida Southern College facing off for the men, and those teams being joined by the University of West Florida and Florida Gulf Coast for the women. In both the men’s and women’s meets, the NCAA rankings were dented by a hailstorm of sharp swims at both the Division 2 and Division 1 levels.
Full scores from all duals are here.
The FSU vs FSC dual meet produced a long list of inspired swims from the men. The 400 medley relay drew out the #11 time in the NCAA from Florida State at 3:17.44, as they were pushed by Florida Southern College who turned in the top time in Division 2 this year by over three seconds at 3:18.73.
FSC’s Jesus Marin landed the #3 Division 2 national ranking in three individual freestyle events, winning the 200 free in 1:38.78 and the 500 in 4:33.40. His 100 free was third place in the meet at 45.40. The 100 free was won by FSU’s Jason McCormick who tied for the #12 spot in NCAA Division 1 with 44.42. McCormick also tied for the #9 ranking in the 50 free with 20.09.
Jason Coombs was a four event winner for FSU, with the most impressive of his swims being his 1:57.08 for the 200 breaststroke, which ranks him number two in Division 1 behind Cal’s Josh Prenot. The 200 breast was also a Division 2 ranking destroyer as FSC landed the #2 and #3 rankings in the event with a 2:01.65 finish from Sean Kim and a 2:01.85 right behind him from Luis Jasso. Kim also took the #10 ranking in the 100 breast later in the meet with 56.70 for second place in the meet behind the #11 time in Division 1 turned in by Coombs at 54.70.
The women’s meet had Florida Gulf Coast taking the top time overall in 15 of the 19 events. Elise Haan was a triple winner for the Eagles, capturing the 200 free (1:49.26,) 100 back (54.73,) and 200 back (2:02.68.)
Five more women from FGCU were double winners. Lani Cabrera won the 500 (4:53.16) and 1000 free (10:04.08.) Katie Armitage won the 200 breast in 2:17.23 and the 100 breast in 1:02.25. The breaststroke events had more impressive stats within them as well. The second place finisher in the 200 breast, UWF’s Paulina Szydlo turned in a 2:17.71 for the #2 ranked time in Division 2. Her Argonaut teammate Gabrielle Spangenberry was the fourth place finisher in the 100 breast, but her 1:04.11 ranks #1 in the nation for Division 2.
Katie Latham won the sprint freestyles, turning in 23.24 for the 50 and 50.62 for the 100. Latham was not the only sprinter to impress though, as Florida Southern College got a 23.41 relay lead-off from Kelsey Gouge later in the meet, officially landing her at the top of the Division 2 rankings. The 200 free relay was just impressive across the board, as the 1:33.33 turned in by FGCU ranks them at #18 so far in Division 1, and the #3 and #4 times in Division 2 were also turned in by FSC (1:37.21) and UWF (1:37.33.)
The other relays boasted ranked times as well for both Florida Gold Coast and West Florida. The 200 medley relay gave FGCU the #19 ranking in Division 1 with 1:41.19, and UWF’s third place finish was good enough for #2 in Division 2 at 1:46.31. The 400 medley was a #14 ranking for FGCU within Division 1 at 3:43.96, and UWF’s fifth place finish at 3:52.57 gives them the top national ranking so far this year for Division 2.
Barbara Caraballo took the 100 IM in 57.47 and the 200 IM in 2:01.65. Her 200 IM time was good enough to rank her at #18 so far this year for Division 1 for the only top 20 individual Division 1 ranking for the women’s meet.
Pia Hulley landed two #2 rankings for Division 2. The UWF backstroker was third overall in the 100 back with 57.13 and 2nd in the meet with 2:03.60. West Florida had two more event winners, with Peggy deVilliers capturing the 100 fly at 55.91, earning the #2 ranking in Division 2, and Monica Amaral taking the 3-meter diving event with 308.95 points. Florida State also had two event winners, with Megan Brown capturing the 200 fly at 2:01.30 and Cassidy Gebhart taking the 1-meter Diving event with 267.10.