UF Has Impressive Showing In First Day Of Open
Friday, December 1, 2000 | Women's Swimming & Diving
The University of Florida men's and women's swimming teams, ranked 10th and ninth, respectively, had a combined 21 swimmers advance to the finals of five events in the first of three days of competition at the U.S. Open. Senior Ricardo Monasterio (Caracas, Venezuela/Insititudo Educaciones Asociados) shattered the previous six-year old 400-meter freestyle U.S. Open record with his time of 3:48.92, 1.71 seconds faster than the previous record of 3:50.63, in addition to taking first in the finals of the event. Freshman Janelle Atkinson (Jamaica/The Bolles School) led the way for the women's team, winning the 400-meter freestyle as well with her time of 4:07.43.
Premliminary heats were held in the morning, with the top 24 finishers advancing to the finals. The top eight competed in the A finals, the next eight in the B finals and the last eight in the C finals. Both Monasterio and
Atkinson won the A Finals of the 400-meter freestyle.
On the men's side, senior Bryan Kim (Seoul, South Korea/Yangjae) finished eighth in the A Finals of the 200-meter individual medley (2:05.23) and sixth in the B Finals of the 400-meter freestyle (3:58.01). Junior Mike Jansen (Wellington, Fla./Wellington) finished seventh in the A finals of the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2:01.03.
On the women's side, the Gators had a prominent showing in the finals of the 400-meter freestyle, with seven Gators advancing to the finals, which were comprised of 24 swimmers. In addition to Atkinson, sophomore Laura Cross (Pompano Beach, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) also swam in the A finals of the 400-meter freestyle, finishing seventh with a time of 4:18.00.
The U.S. Open continues Friday with the preliminary heats beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET and the finals beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. Friday's events include the 100-meter backstroke, 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly, 400-meter individual medley and the 400-meter medley relay. The meet features a mix of over 650 collegiate and club team swimmers.
Results were not available for the 800-meter freestyle relay finals that was swum tonight and neither were collegiate team scores.
Florida Results For Finals
Men's Results
200-meter Individual Medley
A Finals: 8. Bryan Kim, 2:05.23; B Final: 2. Greg Reeves, 2:03.92; 6. Duncan Sherrard, 2:06.66; C Final: 4. Eric Donnelly, 2:06.96
400-meter Freestyle
A Final: 1. Ricardo Monasterio, 3:48.92; B Final: 6. Bryan Kim, 3:58.01
100-meter Breaststroke
B Final: 3. Phillip Norris, 1:03.10; C Final: 6. Ian Chadsey, 1:05.32
200-meter Backstroke
A Final: 7. Mike Jansen, 2:01.03; B Final, 2. Chris Kellam, 2:02.83
50-meter Freestyle
C Final: 2. Jim Kostowicz, 23.47; 5. Hendrick Odendaal, 23.79
Women's Results
200-meter Individual Medley
B Final: 2. Sara McLarty, 2:18.32; C Final: 3. Jaime Ellis, 2:18.99; 4. Brooke Taflinger, 2:20.60
400-meter Freestyle
A Final: 1. Janelle Atkinson, 4:07.43; 7. Laura Cross, 4:18.00; B Final: 1. Sara McLarty, 4:15.22; 6. Sharon Rzadkowolsky, 4:20.57; 8. Megan Melgaard, 4:23.80; C Final: 1. Jaime Ellis, 4:17.74; 7. Anna Chapman, 4:22.38
100-meter Breaststroke
C Final: 2. Cerian Gibbes, 1:12.68
200-meter Backstroke
C Final: 6. Megan Melgaard, 2:20.31
50-meter Freestyle
B Final: 7. Leah Martindale, 26.44
