For the third straight year, the UF men’s swimming and diving team finished on top.
The top-ranked Gators ended the five-day Southeastern Conference Championships with a meet-high 1,314.5 points on Saturday, nearly 200 points higher than second-place Georgia.
Two individual titles and an SEC record relay time catapulted Florida to the top spot.
The men’s team started the competition with a program- and conference-best time in the 800-yard freestyle relay, touching the wall in 6:12.85.
UF also had individual wins from Caeleb Dressel (100-yard butterfly, 45.28 seconds) and Mitch D’Arrigo (500-yard Freestyle, 4:10.77). Both times ranked second in UF history.
“It was a great week,” coach Gregg Troy said in a release. “We stood up and raced tough the whole way. (Saturday) was a great way to finish.”
The fourth-ranked women’s team finished third in the 12-team field for the fourth-straight year.
The Gators won four individual titles, highlighted by Natalie Hinds’ 100-yard freestyle victory on Saturday.
After placing sixth in the 50-yard freestyle on Wednesday, the junior took the top spot in the 100 free in a program-best 47.26 seconds.
“I was nervous going in, but what I learned from the 50 (freestyle) is that I need to relax. That’s what Coach Troy told me. In the prelims this morning, I just needed to do what I know I can and tonight, I just needed to stay relaxed,” Hinds said. “I just wanted to do the best that I could and I was really hurting towards the end so I just went as fast as possible.”
Overall, Florida secured 25 ‘A’ cuts, which are guaranteed UF spots in the NCAA Championships.
“In the end, this is just another swim meet, as we have to go back to work on Monday and make sure we’re ready for the next one,” Troy said.
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Freshman Caeleb Dressel jumps into the pool at the start of the 200-yard breaststroke event during Day 3 of the 2014 Pinch A Penny Invitational
