Gregg Troy’s Florida Gators had a very strong showing on the first day of the men’s NCAA Championships in Austin, TX. Marcin Cieslak was an individual event champion on day 1, swimming the fourth fastest time in history to win the 200 IM. His time of 1:40.58 tied Micheal Phelp’s lifetime best SCY 200 IM time.
Florida added a fifth place finish in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:16.98. In the 500, two Florida swimmers finished in the top 8. Dan Wallace made a huge charge in the last 150 to run down the defending national champion from Michigan, Connor Jaeger, touching with a 4:11.62. Mitch D’Arrigo was also 6th at 4:15.75. The 200 IM was a very fun event for the gators. Not only did Cieslak win the event, but Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez won the B-final, touching at 1:42.67.
Brad DeBorde finished third in the 50 freestyle with an 18.98 and was one of three swimmers to break 19 seconds. The teams final points of the day came from a second place finish in the 400 medley relay, posting a time of 3:04.77.
Florida is sitting in 3rd after Day 1, but it is still very close. Texas is leading with 146, Cal is in second at 145, and Florida is just behind them with 136 points.
