Junior swimmer Gemma Spofforth makes a habit out of setting records, and her performance at the NCAA Championships meet in College Station, Texas, proved that.
Spofforth dominated from the start of the weekend by placing fourth in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:54.73, beating her previous UF record of 1:55.39. On the final day, Spofforth, freshman Teresa Crippen and junior Stephanie Proud also swept the 200-yard back, giving UF its 100th national title.
Spofforth said she swims for her coaches and for her mom.
"I lost my mom about a year and a half ago , and when I look up at the board, I do it for her," Spofforth said.
Her coaches helped her overcome the "post-Olympic blues" and have pushed her to the high level she's maintained all season. She repaid them for their effort this weekend.
"Gemma Spofforth has been outstanding, not only in the pool, but as a leader of this team," UF coach Gregg Troy said.
Spofforth and the other Gators women selected for the NCAA snatched a seventh-place finish this weekend, placing in the top 10 for the ninth consecutive year. Thirteen swimmers and divers captured 34 All-American honors including honorable mentions, with Spofforth leading the pack. Divers Kara Salamone (2), Monica Dodson (1) and Melani Costa-Schmid (1) also secured honors.
Other standouts included freshman Jemma Lowe and Crippen, who placed fourth in the 200 butterfly and set a UF record in the 400-yard IM, respectively.
"We have a promising future because we probably had the most freshman at this meet," Troy said. "And the good news for us is they're all returning."
Troy said his team started off the championships slow but then picked up the pace as the meet went on. They are proud of their seventh-place finish, but Spofforth believes there is still more within her reach. Her tenure on the UF swimming and diving team is not over yet.
"Each and every day was harder and harder," Spofforth said. "Next year (my senior year), I'd like to make it on the first-, second- and third-place platform."
