The University of Florida men’s and women’s distance freestylers dominated the field at the Alabama Classic to lead the Gators through the meet’s final day.   Florida divers were also in action at the Georgia Invitational, sweeping the day’s event on the platform.

Elizabeth Goldson earned a second place finish in the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle, finishing with a time of 17:16.10.  She was joined by men’s swimmers Joey Pedraza, Cody Kauffman and Logan Storie, who combined for a one-two-three finish.  Pedraza’s time of 15:38.25 was a season best for the Gators.  Kauffman touched in with a time of 15:41.64 to earn the second best time of the year, while Storie was third with his time of 15:42.77 to rank him third on the season list.  All three swims were career bests for the two freshman while Kauffman’s time was just shy of his previous personal best.

Samantha Vanderbilt led the way for Florida in the first event of the evening, swimming her way to a first place finish in the 200-meter backstroke, touching the wall with a time of 2:19.96.  She was joined by Stacy Nedrud who finished second in the event with a time of 2:20.84.  Kyle Coan and Skylar Stroman combined to finish third and fourth on the men’s side.  Coan touched in the wall with a time of 2:09.15 while Stroman was right behind him with a time of 2:10.99.  All four times represented season bests for Florida in the 200 back.

Colleen Healy turned in the best finish for the women in the 100-meter freestyle.  Her time of 59.56 ranks her sixth on the UF season list.  For the men it was Brett Fraser who turned in the best time, placing fifth with a time of 53.31.

In the 200 breaststroke it was Amanda Hartley that finished best for Florida, turning in a third place performance with a time of 2:39.33.  Michael Joyce was fifth for the men, touching the wall in 2:31.10 during the finals for Florida’s best finish.

Freshman Julianne Lago just missed an automatic qualifying time in the 200-meter butterfly, instead settling for another ‘B’ standard in her third win of the season.  Lago touched in with a time of 2:16.32 to lead the Gators.  Matt Norton completed the sweep of the event, placing first for the men with a time of 2:05.70, tying for fourth best on UF’s season list.

In the 400-meter free relay it was the men who took the top spot with a combined time of 3:30.40, the second best time by a 400 FR Gator team this season.  The women were second in their event with a time of 3:56.64, also a second best for the Gators this season.

Florida divers were also in action this afternoon.  The Gator women wrapped up competition at the Georgia Invitational, hitting the water from the platform today.  The Gators swept the top five spots on the platform, led by freshman Monica Dodson.  Dodson earned a first place finish with a score of 288.60.  She was followed, in order, by Jeniree Flores (251.55), Whitney Stern (248.95), Sarah Ellerby (246.35) and Jennifer Funch (231.90).  The platform competition wrapped up a stellar weekend for the Gators on the boards.