Gators Open NCAA Championships in Historic Fashion

Wednesday, March 27

Austin, TX

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Florida Gators

NCAA Championships

The group of All-Americans with Coach Nesty after day one of NCAA Championships

Gators Open NCAA Championships in Historic Fashion

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | Men's Swimming & Diving

By: Chad Smith

Finals Results | Photo Gallery

AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Florida men's swimming team returned to the pool for the first time at the 2019 NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas on Wednesday. The Gators opened the championships with a historic swim in the 800 Free Relay, as the Gators currently sit in fifth place with 28 points.

The team of Khader Baqlah, Kieran Smith, Trey Freeman, and Maxime Rooney clocked the fastest time in Florida History. Their combined swim of 6:09.14 earned the squad a fifth-place finish. The team earned First-Team All-American honors.

This is Rooney's sixth All-American accolade and Baqlah's fifth All-American honor. Freeman and Smith earned their first All-American nods.

The championships continue with the 200 Free Relay prelims on Thursday at 10 a.m. CT.

From the coaches – Head Coach Anthony Nesty

"The first one is always the hardest. Luckily our guys did a really good job racing. Really happy, it's a school record, so it's the fastest 800 Free Relay in the record books. That's always what we hope for coming to a meet like this. We still have lots of swimming left. Hopefully we get a good night's sleep tonight and get ready to go tomorrow."
"Thanks to our volunteer coach Matt Leenhouts. Also, I would like to express our thanks to our support staff, Matt DeLancey, Blaire Wolski, Christina Radomski, Jon Palomar, Tim Aydt, Mike Spiegler, Erva Gilliam, and Delaney Dye. All are dedicated and committed to our team. That support does not go unnoticed."

Team Standings
1. Texas – 40
2. North Carolina State – 34
3. California – 32
4. Indiana – 30
5. Florida – 28
6. Louisville – 26
7. Harvard – 24
8. Virginia – 22
9. Arizona State – 18
T10. Missouri – 13
T10. Ohio State – 13
12. Arizona – 10
13. Texas A&M – 8
14. Michigan – 6
15. Stanford – 4
16. Georgia Tech – 2

Event Schedule
Prelims - Thursday (10 a.m. CT)
200 Free Relay
500 Free
200 IM
50 Free
400 Medley Relay
1-Meter Diving

Finals - Thursday (6 p.m. CT)
200 Free Relay - Consolation
200 Free Relay - Finals
500 Free - Consolation
500 Free - Finals
200 IM - Consolation
200 IM - Finals
50 Free - Consolation
50 Free - Finals
1-Meter Diving - Finals
400 Medley Relay - Consolation
400 Medley Relay - Finals

Prelims - Friday (10 a.m. CT)
400 IM
100 Fly
200 Free
100 Breast
100 Back
200 Medley Relay
3-Meter Diving

Finals - Friday (6 p.m. CT)
400 IM - Consolation
400 IM - Finals
100 Fly - Consolation
100 Fly - Finals
200 Free - Consolation
200 Free - Finals
100 Breast - Consolation
100 Breast - Finals
100 Back - Consolation
100 Back - Finals
3-Meter Diving - Finals
200 Medley Relay - Consolation
200 Medley Relay - Finals

Prelims - Saturday (10 a.m. CT)
200 Back
100 Free
200 Breast
200 Fly
400 Free Relay
Platform Diving
1,650 Free - All but last heat of timed finals

Finals - Saturday (6 p.m. CT)
1,650 Free - Last heat of timed finals
200 Back - Consolation
200 Back - Finals
100 Free - Consolation
100 Free - Finals
200 Breast - Consolation
200 Breast - Finals
200 Fly - Consolation
200 Fly - Finals
Platform Diving - Finals
400 Free Relay - Consolation
400 Free Relay – Finals

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