Gators Down Seminoles in Rivalry Meet With Josh Liendo, Ahmed Jaouadi Impressing Again
The University of Florida swim teams concluded their dual-meet schedules Friday with an in-state matchup against the Florida State Seminoles. The Gator men were particularly dominant, posting a score of 202-93 in a dominant victory, while Florida’s women were victorious 186-110.
The Florida men’s team exploded in the opening event with a big win in the 200 medley relay. The team of Jonny Marshall, Koen de Groot, Scotty Buff and Josh Liendo finished in 1:23.38, with Liendo coming home in 18.17. Liendo made a rare appearance in the 200 butterfly, securing the win in 1:40.12, and he clocked 45.28 in his win in the 100 fly. Liendo split 18.55 on the meet-ending 200 free relay, with Devin Dilger, Alex Painter and Buff providing the other legs in a 1:16.13 win.
Double world champion Ahmed Jaouadi dominated the 1650 freestyle in 14:39.75, tenths behind his 14:39.10 from midseason that ranks third nationally. Jaouadi was back in the pool moments later for the 200 free, and he came from behind with a 23.53 closing split to secure the win in 1:35.05. Jaouadi finished off his busy day with a winning mark of 4:16.00 in the 200 free.
Marshall won the 100 back (46.04) while Aiden Norman pulled away for first in the 200 back (1:40.99). Painter topped the 50 free (19.49), and Aleksas Savickas was first in the 200 breast (1:56.98). In diving, the Gators’ Jesus Agundez Mora won 1-meter (394.50) while Conor Gesing led the way on 3-meter (407.48). Gio Linscheer was the come-from-behind winner in the 400 IM (3:45.85).
Florida State got its first win from Marcos Egri-Martin in the 100 breast (53.40), and Logan Robinson won the 100 free (43.30).
The women’s meet got off to a competitive start as the Gators held off the Seminoles by just four hundredths in the 200 medley relay. Florida State had a faster split on three strokes, but Anita Bottazzo was just too good with her 26.48 breaststroke split. Catie Choate, Beatriz Bezerra and Lainy Kruger also took part in the relay, which clocked 1:36.61. Bottazzo followed up her relay heroics with a dominant performance in the 100 breast, finishing in 58.32, and she won again in the 200 breast, holding on down the stretch to clock 2:10.33.
Michaela Mattes finished almost 20 seconds clear of her competition in the 1650 free, going 16:07.73. Addison Reese topped the 200 fly convincingly in 1:56.40 while Kruger was the clear winner of the 100 free (49.14). Zuri Ferguson showed off her finishing speed on the way to a win in the 200 back (1:56.18). Camille DeBoer led for almost the entire race in the 500 free (4:49.31), followed by freshman Grace Rabb topping the 100 fly (53.07).
Camyla Monroy was a double winner in diving, winning 3-meter (369.00) and 1-meter (316.50). Sofia Plaza took out the 400 IM (4:15.35), and the team of Bezerra, Bottazzo, Sylvia Statkevicius and Kruger won the 200 free relay in 1:30.62.
Florida State’s Ioana-Maria Stirbu was first in the 200 free in 1:47.19, and teammate Alice Velden won a competitive race in the 100 back (53.34). Maryn McDade took the top spot in the 50 free (22.66).
