The University of Florida women’s swimming and diving team rebounded from their first loss of the season last week and defeated the University of Kentucky, 167-132, this afternoon in Lexington.  It was the first time the two programs had met since the 2003-04 season.  With the win the Gators improve to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference.

The Gators finished the meet with nine first place finishes and three sweeps of the top three spots, including the first individual event of the day, the 1,000 freestyle.  Kim Larson (Longwood, Fla.) led the way for Florida, winning the event with a time of 9:56.55.  Freshman Madison Parker (Biloxi, Miss.) turned in the second fastest time at 10:14.04 while Stacy Nedrud (Melbourne, Fla.) swam in third with a time of 10:16.20.

Laurabeth Guenthner (Wellington, Fla.) and Stephanie Napier (Chattanooga, Tenn.) combined to go one-two in the 200 yard free.  Guenthner touched in first with a time of 1:51.62 while Napier followed at 1:51.86.  Both swimmers were over two seconds faster than the third place finisher in the event.  Each swimmers time was good for the fifth and sixth fastest times of the season in the 200 free.

Florida excelled in the 100 back, claiming all four top spots of the event.  Samantha Vanderbilt (Nashville, Tenn.) earned first place, swimming to the wall in 56.09 seconds, her second fastest time of the year.  She was followed by Kelsey Smith (Cary, N.C.) in second with a time of 57.40, marking the fourth fastest Gator time this season.  Sarah Peterson (Franklin, Tenn.) and Rebekah Epley (Russellville, Ky.) swam in at third and fourth place with times of 58.05 and 58.32 respectively. 

Caroline Burckle (Louisville, Ky.) remained undefeated in individual events this season, claiming the top spot in the 100 yard breaststroke.  Burckle swam her second fastest time in the short course pool, clocking in at 1:03.81 for the win.  Amanda Hartley (Tallahassee, Fla.) swam her second best time of the season at 1:04.78 to finish third.

Julianne Lago (Miami, Fla.) swam to her second provisional time this season, finishing first in the 200 yard butterfly with a time of 2:01.06.  Freshman Sarah Sykes (Jacksonville, Fla.) and senior Natalie Pike (Boca Raton, Fla.) combined to go three-four in the event, touching the wall with times o f 2:02.89 and 2:05.02.  For all three swimmers, their times marked a season best for each.  For Lago, her time was the top time swum by a Gator in the short course pool.

Kelsey Smith (Cary, N.C.) led off the second sweep in the 200 backstroke for the Gators.  She finished with a time of 2:03.40, to claim the top spot.  Smith was followed by Stacy Nedrud (Melbourne Beach, Fla.) and Sarah Peterson (Franklin, Tenn.) who swam into the second and third place slots with times of 2:05.54 and 2:05.92.

Burckle was able to keep her unbeaten streak alive when she returned to the pool in the 200 yard breaststroke, tying with Hartley for first place with a time of 2:19.10.  It was a season beast for each swimmer as well as a season best time for the team.

Elizabeth Kemp and Sykes combined to go one-two in the 500 yard freestyle.  Kemp touched first with a time of 4:58.05 while Sykes was behind her with a time of 5:02.07.  Nedrud would return to the pool after Pike, Epley and Jenny Lago (Wellington, Fla.) combined to take the second through fourth place times in the 100 yard butterfly.  Nedrud wrapped up the first place finishes for the Gators, taking the top time in the 200 yard individual medley with a time of 2:06.91.  For Nedrud, it was her best time this season in the short course yards.

Florida had a strong day on the diving boards as well, earning one zone qualifying score from Jennifer Funch (Cincinnati, Oh.), who received a score of 278.62 on the one meter board.  She would later return to finish fifth on the three meter board with a score of 212.93.  Jeana Bartell (Boca Raton, Fla.) had Florida’s best finish in the three meter event, taking third with a score of 261.90, she was followed by Monica Dodson (Franklin Ind.) who finished fourth with a score of 238.88.

The Gators will now have over a week off as they prepare for the Purdue Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind. from November 16-18.  The Gator men will travel to Lexington next Thursday to face the Wildcats for the first time since the 2003-04 season.