This weekend the Gators treaded in the waters of the 1996 Olympics, rising to place in the top five of the Georgia Tech Invitational’s 13 competing teams. The men’s team finished in second while the women secured the third-place spot.
The three-day meet in Atlanta’s Georgia Tech Aquatic Center paved the way for freshman and U.S. National Team member Elizabeth Beisel to earn UF’s first automatic qualifying time for the NCAA Championships this season.
Beisel touched in at second place in the 400-yard individual medley at 4:06.84, this season’s second-fastest time in the country.
“It was a little bit of a surprise,” Beisel said. “I wasn’t too confident I’d be able to go that time at this point in the season, so it was a really nice surprise and relief.”
The women’s team was also celebrating U.S. National Team member and junior Teresa Crippen’s return to the pool. Crippen has been out of competition since mid-October due to the tragic passing of her brother and U.S. swimmer Fran Crippen.
Upon Crippen’s return to the pool Friday, she finished in fifth place in the 200-yard individual medley and assisted her relay team’s No. 3-spot in the 400-yard medley relay event.
Crippen’s time in the 200-yard individual medley was a personal season best.
“It’s amazing she’s back. She’s incredibly strong,” Beisel said. “We’re all really glad she’s back because she is one of our best swimmers.”
Dwyer dominates for men: The men’s squad also reeled in successes as senior Conor Dwyer rounded out in the top spot in the 400-yard individual medley finals with a time of 3:45.21, nearly seven seconds faster than the previous nation-leading time for the event this season.
Dwyer also dominated the 200-yard individual medley, finishing at 1:45.52, the nation’s leading time for the event.
“With how hard we have been training I wasn’t sure how fast I was going to be at this meet,” Dwyer said. “I enjoyed swimming the (individual medleys) because it’s something different than the normal freestyle lineup.”
