Smith, 400 Medley Relay Pace Gators on Day Two of NCAA Championships

Thursday, March 28

Austin, TX

All Day

Florida Gators

NCAA Championships

Smith placed eighth in the 200 IM and earned First-Team All-American status

Smith, 400 Medley Relay Pace Gators on Day Two of NCAA Championships

Thursday, March 28, 2019 | Men's Swimming & Diving

By: Chad Smith

Final Results | Prelim Results | Photo Gallery

AUSTIN, Texas – Kieran Smith and the 400 Medley Relay team led the Gators on day two of the 2019 NCAA Championships on Thursday at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. The University of Florida men's swimming team currently sits in fifth place with 76 points.

Smith earned a First-Team All-American honor in the 200 IM with his eighth-place finish and his swim of 1:44.23. Smith collected his second First-Team All-American nod with his performance. He is the only freshman to earn First-Team All-American status in the 200 IM this season.

The 400 Medley Relay team of Kacper Stokowski, Marco Guarente, Maxime Rooney, and Bayley Main all earned First-Team All-American accolades for their eighth-place time of 3:04.66. Their swim is the fifth-best in Florida history. Rooney collected his seventh All-American honor, while Main earned his second. Guarente and Stokowski both earned their first All-American accolades.

The team of Rooney, Will Davis, Main and Smith combined for a time of 1:16.59 and placed third in the consolation final of the 200 Free Relay. The squad picked up an All-American honorable mention honor. Rooney picked up his eighth All-American status. Smith and Main now have three All-American honors apiece. Davis picked up his first All-American accolade.

Trey Freeman posted a swim of 4:18.52 and placed seventh in the 500 Free consolation final. He earned an All-American honorable mention status. Khader Baqlah collected an All-American honorable mention nod with his eighth-place time of 4:20.50. Baqlah has collected seven All-American honors throughout his career and Freeman now has two All-American nods.

The 200 Free Relay team of Rooney, Davis, Main, and Stokowski started the prelims with a time of 1:17.81 and placed 15th in the prelims. The group earned a spot into the consolation finals.

In the 500 Free prelims, Freeman led the Gators with the 13th-best time of 4:14.34. Baqlah added a swim of 4:14.47 and placed 16th. Both Freeman and Baqlah earned spots into the consolation final. Robert Finke finished the prelims in 43rd with an effort of 4:20.14.

Smith qualified for the 200 IM A Final with his eighth-place time of 1:42.26. His time is a personal best and moved him into ninth in program history. Grant Sanders posted a mark of 1:44.59 and finished tied for 36th. Alex Lebed placed 44th with a time of 1:45.44. Dillon Hillis came in 47th with an effort of 1:45.83.

Will Davis was the lone swimmer for Florida in the 50 Free prelims. He clocked a time of 19.59 and placed 37th.

With the eighth-fastest time of 3:04.78 in the 400 Medley Relay, Stokowski, Guarente, Rooney, and Main punched their ticket into the A Final. The squad posted the sixth-best swim in UF history.

The 400 IM kicks off the prelims on Friday at 10 a.m. CT.

From the coaches – Head Coach Anthony Nesty

"It's always a battle coming in the next morning after a really intense night with the 800 Free Relay. The guys battled really well. I'm very proud of them."
"We had a lot of swims tonight! I'm proud of our guys. They raced well. To be sitting in fifth place after day two really speaks volume of their character, work ethic, and desire to come in here and compete at the highest level."
"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, Delaney Dye, and our volunteer coach Matt Leenhouts. All are dedicated and committed to our team. Their support does not go unnoticed."

Team Standings
1. California – 212
2. Texas – 188
3. Indiana – 155
4. North Carolina State – 136
5. Florida – 76
6. Louisville – 71
7. Harvard – 70
T8. Alabama – 60
T8. Missouri – 60
10. Texas A&M – 54

Results
500 Free
Consolation Finals
15. Trey Freeman – 4:18.53
16. Khader Baqlah – 4:20.50
Prelims
13. Trey Freeman – 4:14.34
16. Khader Baqlah – 4:14.47
43. Robert Finke – 4:20.14
200 IM
Finals
8. Kieran Smith – 1:44.23
Prelims
8. Kieran Smith – 1:42.26 PR
T36. Grant Sanders – 1:44.59
44. Alex Lebed – 1:45.44
47. Dillon Hillis – 1:45.83
50 Free
Prelims
37. Will Davis – 19.59

Event Schedule
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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