GAINSVILLE, Fla. — The Florida swimming and diving kicked off the 2022-23 season on Friday with three wins. The women beat Nova Southeastern 244-44 and Arkansas 219-79 in a double-dual while the men led Nova Southeastern 252-42.
The Gators finished the day with seven B-cuts and won every event but one.
Florida got off to a quick start, winning the 200-medley relay on both sides to open the meet. In the men’s, four relay teams finished in the top five, while women’s first- and third-place finishes earned 13 points.
Native of Gainesville Talia Bates her senior season with four wins and first place finishes in the 100 backstroke, 100 fly, 200 medley relay, and 400 free relay.
newcomers
In his first collegial action Joshua Liendo was three for three in first place. The Canadian Olympian swam the third leg of the 200m medley relay in his first collegiate race before clinching victory at 19.69 with a win in the 50m, a B-cut and a win in the 100 fly followed at 48.06.
In the 1000 free, Hayden Miller swam a 9:53.52 in her collegiate debut, over 13 seconds ahead of the field. The freshman from Houston, Texas, also won the 500 Free in 4:51.10.
Jake Mitchell led the men’s 500m free and touched the wall in 4:24.92 to claim first place. Mitchell finished second in the 200m free relay and third in the 400m free relay in his Gator debut.
Nina Kucheran made her debut in Florida with three wins and won the 100 breast, 200 breast and 200 medley relay.
Dive
Carina Lumia swept the women’s diving competition, winning at 1 meter and 3 meter Anton Svirskyi scored 18 points with wins in the 1m and 3m dashes.
Winner:
200 Medley Relay
Women: Mack, Kucheran, Völker, T. Bates – 1:40,72
Men: Chaney, Hillis, Liendo, Alberto Mestre – 1:28.04
1000 free
Women: Hayden Miller – 9:53.52
Men: Brennan Graveley – 9:09.98
200 free
Women: Tylor Mathieu – 1:49.36
Men: Julian Smith – 1:37.56
100 back
Women: Talia Bates – 54.23
Men: Adam Chaney – 48.45
100 chest
Women: Nina Kucheran – 1:02.09
Men: Dillon Hillis – 55.39
200 flies
Men: Billy Jones – 1:49.00
50 Free
Women: Ekaterina Nikonova – 22.45
Men: Joshua Liendo – 19.69
100% free
Women: Ekaterina Nikonova – 48.95
Men: Julian Smith – 43.53
200 back
Women: Mabel Zavaros – 1:56.92
Men: Adam Chaney – 1:49.11
200 chest
Women: Nina Kucheran – 2:15.76
Men: Raphael Rached Windmuller – 2:00.13
500 free
Women: Hayden Miller – 4:51.10
Men: Jake Mitchell – 4:24.92
100 flies
Women: Talia Bates – 53.84
Men: Joshua Liendo – 48.06
200IM
Women: Mabel Zavaros – 2:01.21
Men: Kevin Varga – 1:46.80
400 free relay
Women: T Bates, Cronk, Nikonova, K Golding – 3:20.56
Men: Lindholm, Alfonso MestreFullum-Hout, Freeman—2:59–41
