Gators Finish Fourth In First Event Of The 2021 NCAA Championships

Wednesday, March 24

Greensboro, NC

All Day

Florida Gators

NCAA Championships

Gators Finish Fourth In First Event Of The 2021 NCAA Championships

Wednesday, March 24, 2021 | Men's Swimming & Diving

By: Bridgette Underwood

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Gators got out to a fast start at the 2021 NCAA Championships in Greensboro, N.C., as they finished fourth in the 800 free relay.

The quartet of Kieran Smith, Trey Freeman, Alfonso Mestre and Robert Finke went a blistering 6:10.91 to place fourth in the opening race (800 free relay) if the 2021 NCAA Championships.

With that time the squad of Smith, Freeman, Mestre, and Finke move up to number seven on the UF all-time best list.

Smith got the Gators going with his opening 200 free split with a time of 1:29.66 just .18 second off of his best time.

Quotables – Head Coach Anthony Nesty

"We are off to a good start. Our goal is always to be faster once we reach NCAA's. We need to prepare for tomorrow's races staying focused and committed 
to our goals. We will take it one day at a time. Our men raced tough tonight and I am very proud of them. Each athlete is prepared for their events and we remain
hopeful that our combined team effort will yield a promising finish to the season."

Standings

1. Texas                           40
2. California                       34
3. Texas A&M   32
4. Florida                           30
5. NC State 28
6. Georgia 26
7. Stanford 24
8. Louisville                       22
9. Indiana 18
10. Virginia Tech              14
11. Michigan 12
12. Arizona 10
13. Virginia 8
14. Ohio St 6
15. Missouri 4
16. Notre Dame 2

Event Schedule
March 24 — 6 p.m. finals

800-yard Freestyle Relay

March 25 — 10 a.m. Trials

500-yard Freestyle
200-yard Individual Medley
50-yard Freestyle
One-meter Diving

6 p.m. Finals

200-yard Freestyle Relay
500-yard Freestyle
200-yard Individual Medley
50-yard Freestyle
400-yard Medley Relay
One-meter Diving

March 26— 10 a.m. Trials

400-yard Individual Medley
100-yard Butterfly
200-yard Freestyle
100-yard Breaststroke
100-yard Backstroke
Three-meter Diving

6 p.m. Finals

400-yard Individual Medley
100-yard Butterfly
200-yard Freestyle
100-yard Breaststroke
100-yard Backstroke
Three-meter Diving
200-yard Medley Relay

March 27— 10 a.m. Trials

200-yard Backstroke
100-yard Freestyle
200-yard Breaststroke
200-yard Butterfly
Platform Diving

6 p.m. Finals

1,650-yard Freestyle
200-yard Backstroke
100-yard Freestyle
200-yard Breaststroke
200-yard Butterfly
Platform Diving
400-yard Freestyle Relay

What's Next
On the second day of the NCAA Championships the prelims will start at 10 a.m. with the 500 free followed by the 200 IM, the 50 free and the 1-meter diving competition.