Gators Send 13 Swimmers to US Open Day 2 Finals

Gators Send 13 Swimmers to US Open Day 2 Finals

Thursday, August 3, 2017 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Six Florida swimmers participated in championship “A” finals on Thursday

By: Katie Callahan

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators sent 13 swimmers to the evening session, including six to championship finals, on Day 2 of the US Open Swimming Championships.

Taylor Ault led the way for the Gator women in the 400m free, placing third in the championship final with a time of 4:11.12. This was her second third place finish in a championship meet in as many days. Savanna Faulconer competed in the B final, finishing with a time of 4:22.42 and Autumn Finke rounded out the women in the 400m finals with a 4:21.17 in the C final.

Andrew Brady and Mitch D'Arrigo both raced in the men's 400m freestyle championship final, with D'Arrigo coming out on top of the two in fifth place, swimming a 3:52.72. Brady finished seventh overall with a time of 3:53.38. Ben Lawless found himself in the B final after his preliminary performance and he finished with a time of 3:59.67.

Ross Palazzo and Chandler Bray both participated in the championship final for the men's 200m breaststroke, with Palazzo placing seventh with a swim of 2:15.08. Bray was disqualified from the final.

Hannah Burns competed in the 200m breast C final after her preliminary swim of 2:34.56. She bested that time with a 2:34.43 in the C final.

Sydney Sell was the only Gator woman to swim in the 200m back evening session, finishing second in the C final with a time of 2:14.07.

Incoming freshman Clark Beach competed in the men's 200m back championship final, finishing in fourth place with a time of 1:59.28. Teammates Brennan Balogh and Ethan Beach each found themselves in a final as well, with Balogh swimming a 2:03.06 in the B final and Ethan Beach swimming a 2:01.80 in the C final.

The preliminary round consisted of six events, beginning with the women's 400m freestyle. Ault led the Gators in the race, finishing 6th with a time of 4:14.96 to make the A final cut. Faulconer and Finke each found their way into a final as well. Faulconer swam a 4:17.65 to win her heat and make the B final and Finke posted a time of 4:18.85 to race in the C final.

Kay Sargent, Kahra Williams and Kelly Fertel each raced in the 400m free as well. Sargent won heat four with a time of 4:20.04, while Williams and Fertel finished with swims of 4:20.19 and 4:25.40, respectively.

The men's 400m free prelim also saw six Gators, with three moving onto finals. Brady shaved almost three seconds off his entry time to finish second overall and earn his spot in the A final. D'Arrigo was right behind, swimming a 3:53.00 to finish third overall in the prelim.

Lawless finished 13th overall with a time of 3:55.32 to place himself in the B final on Thursday evening. Taylor Delk (4:00.02), Drew Clark (4:01.14) and Grady Heath (4:04.21) rounded out the Gators in the 400m free.

Burns was the lone Florida swimmer in the 200m breast and she earned a spot in the C final after finishing with a time of 2:34.56. She placed 21 spots above where she was seeded, finishing 22nd overall in the prelim.

Palazzo (2:14.69) and Bray (2:15.69) finished fifth and sixth overall in the men's 200m breast to earn their spots in the A final on Thursday evening. Teammates Alex Lebed and John Fulginiti rounded out the competitors in the event, posting times of 2:19.54 and 2:23.74, respectively.

Sell earned her spot in the women's 200m back C final after shaving a second and a half off her entry time, finishing with a swim of 2:15.32.

The men's 200m back was the final event of the preliminary round and saw seven Gators race. Incoming freshman Clark Beach led the Florida swimmers, posting a time of 1:59.68 to place himself in the A final. Balogh swam a 2:01.95 to earn his way into the B final and Ethan Beach found himself in the C final after swimming a 2:02.34.

Bayley Main (2:04.42), Dakota Mahaffey (2:04.42), Delk (2:04.76) and Tyler Silver (2:07.05) rounded out the Gator field in the race.

Friday's preliminary round begins at 9:00 a.m. with the women's 400m individual medley.

Final Times:
Women's 400m free
                A Final – Taylor Ault – 4:11.12 (3rd place)
                B Final – Savanna Faulconer – 4:22.42
                C Final – Autumn Finke – 4:21.17
Men's 400m free
                A Final – Mitch D'Arrigo – 3:52.72 (5th place)
A Final – Andrew Brady – 3:53.38 (7th place)
                B Final – Ben Lawless – 3:59.67
Women's 200m breast
                C Final – Hannah Burns – 2:34.43
Men's 200m breast
                A Final – Ross Palazzo – 2:15.08 (7th place)
                A Final – Chandler Bray – DQ
Women's 200m back
                C Final – Sydney Sell – 2:14.07
Men's 200m back
                A Final – Clark Beach – 1:59.28 (4th place)
                B Final – Brennan Balogh – 2:03.06
                C Final – Ethan Beach – 2:01.80
Preliminary Times:
Women's 400m free
                Taylor Ault – 4:14.96 (6th place)^
Savanna Faulconer – 4:17.65 (12th place)*
Autumn Finke – 4:18.85 (20th place)&
                Kay Sargent – 4:20.04 (27th place)
                Kahra Williams – 4:20.19 (28th place)
                Kelly Fertel – 4:25.40 (50th place)
Men's 400m free
                Andrew Brady – 3:52.61 (2nd place)^
Mitch D'Arrigo – 3:53.00 (3rd place)^
                Ben Lawless – 3:55.32 (13th place)*
Taylor Delk – 4:00.22 (39th place)
Drew Clark – 4:01.14 (46th place)
                Grady Heath – 4:04.21 (60th place)
Women's 200m breast
                Hannah Burns – 2:34.56 (22nd place)&
Men's 200m breast
                Ross Palazzo – 2:14.69 (5th place)^
Chandley Bray – 2:15.69 (6th place)^
                Alex Lebed – 2:19.54 (27th place)
                John Fulginiti – 2:23.74 (56th place)
Women's 200m back
                Sydney Sell – 2:15.32 (21st place)&
Men's 200m back
                Clark Beach – 1:59.68 (6th place)^
Brennan Balogh – 2:01.95 (16th place)*
                Ethan Beach – 2:02.34 (19th place)&
Bayley Main – 2:03.29 (30th place)
Dakota Mahaffey – 2:04.42 (37th place)
Taylor Delk – 2:04.76 (40th place)
Tyler Silver – 2:07.05 (56th place)

^ - A Final Qualification
* - B Final Qualification
& - C Final Qualification

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