The University of Florida men’s and women’s swimming teams had one of their busiest days in the pool at the 2005 United States World Championship Trials in the IU Natatorium. The Gators sent 10 student-athletes into competition on the day and had six advance and place in the evening finals.

Continuing to demonstrate his versatility, junior Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.) raced to a second-place finish in the 200-meter backstroke in a personal-best time of 1:57.50. Joining Lochte in the 200-meter backstroke was junior Brian Hartley (Indianapolis, Ind.). Hartley touched the wall in a time of 2:03.00, which was good enough for eighth-place.

In the 200-meter breaststroke the Gator duo of Bill Mrazek (Tallahassee, Fla.) and Corey Welch (Larksville, Pa.) had strong performances as they notched 11th and 14th-place finishes in times of 2:20.09 and 2:21.01 respectively.

Freshman Max Jaben (Overland Park, Kansas) led a veteran trio of UF distance freestylers in the men’s 1500-meter freestyle. Jaben turned in an eighth-place effort as he touched up in a time of 16:05.78, while Matt Coan (Plantation, Fla.) and Scott Kaufmann (Sparks, Nev.) raced to 26th and 28th-place finishes in times of 16:14.78 and 16:17.76.

In women’s action, freshman Caroline Burckle (Louisville, Ky.) narrowly missed qualifying for the finals of the women’s 800-meter freestyle as she finished in 10th in a time of 8:53.79. Sophomore Katie Ball (Cincinnati, Ohio) notched a time of 9:02.74 to finish in 28th-place.

In the 100-meter freestyle, Burckle added a 15th-place finish in a time of 57.20, while fellow freshman Natalie Pike (Boca Raton, Fla.) touched the wall in a time of 57.73 to finish in 35th-place.

The 2005 U.S. World Championship Trials conclude tomorrow at the IU Natatorium.

Gators Qualified for World Championships:

-UF-