Pinzon Shatters UF Record in 200 Fly at FINA World Championships
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Florida senior Gemma Spofforth walked away from the third day of competition at the 2009 FINA World Championships with both a World Championship and the World Record in the women's 100-meter backstroke Tuesday, swimming a 58.12 in championship finals of the race.
Spofforth battled back and forth with Russia's Anastasia Zueva through prelims, semifinals and finals, taking time off of each swim that led her to her first World Championship. Spofforth took first in prelims (58.78), setting a Championship Record, but was edged out by Zueva in semifinals after swimming a 58.74. Tuesday's final race brought the victory, a World Record time of 58.12, good for a gold medal, the Championship and UF records. Zueva finished second in the race (58.18).
“We're really pleased and it couldn't have happened to a better person,” head coach Gregg Troy said. “She has worked so hard and she swam a good race, just like we talked about – and compliments to Martyn Wilby, who's in Italy supporting her. She still has two more races, the 50 back and 200 back, and she should be really good in the 200 back.”
Spofforth will hit the water with prelims of the 50 backstroke Wednesday, while the 200 backstroke prelims take place Friday.
“We are just so pleased with everyone,” Troy said. “We're seeing best times across the board and even if some of our swimmers are only swimming one race in prelims, we're seeing improvement.”
Florida's Rodion Davelaar, who is representing Curacao at the World Championships, swam prelims of the men's 50-meter breaststroke, finishing 69th in the field (29.04), while three Gators swam prelims of the 200-meter butterfly. Senior Omar Pinzon (Colombia) clocked in as UF's highest finisher with a new school record, swimming a 1:57.13 for 20th overall, while sophomore Jose Crescimbeni (Peru) finished 42nd (2:01.57) and junior Bobby Walsh (Philippines) took 61st (2:08.17) in the field of 73 athletes.
Former Gator Ricardo Monasterio (Venezuela) clocked in at 8:08.64 in prelims of the 800-meter free, swimming to 23rd place.
The 13th FINA World Championships continue Wednesday. Morning sessions are scheduled to take place from 9-12:30 p.m. local time in Rome (3-5:30 a.m. ET), while finals span from approximately 6-8:30 p.m. (12-2:30 p.m. ET). Gator fans can follow swimming sessions live from the Stadio del Nuoto through the Omega Live Timing website here. For more information on the 2009 FINA World Swimming Championships, click here.
Fans in the United States can follow all of the action from the World Championships on NBC and Universal Sports. NBC will broadcast the final two days of the meet on August 1 and 2 from 12 – 2 p.m. EDT. Universal Sports will broadcast the remainder of the competition (July 27-July 31) at both 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. EDT. A webcast of the World Championships will also be available online at www.universalsports.com.
EVENING SESSION RESULTS
Women's 100-meter backstroke (finals)
Gemma Spofforth (Great Britain), 1st, 58.12, World Champion & World Record Holder
MORNING SESSION RESULTS
Men's 50-meter breaststroke
Rodion Davelaar (Curacao), 69th, 29.04
Men's 200-meter butterfly
Omar Pinzon (Colombia), 20th, 1:57.13 – UF Record
Jose Crescimbeni (Peru), 42nd, 2:01.57
Bobby Walsh (Philippines), 61st, 2:08.17
Men's 800-meter freestyle
Ricardo Monasterio (Venezuela), 23rd, 8:08.64
-UF-
