Swimming in a position he wasn’t meant to be in, Conor Dwyer came within .01 seconds of an American record.
The senior’s 1:31.73 mark in the first leg of the men’s 800-yard freestyle relay was just one of the benefits of coach Gregg Troy’s lineup shuffles, which resulted in both the men and women’s teams gaining ground on Day 1 of the Southeastern Conference Championships.
“Conor originally wasn’t going to swim that first relay,” Troy said. “We decided we wanted to come out and see if we could make a statement and get back in the meet, so that was key.”
Dwyer’s 200-yard individual time was the fastest in the country and a new SEC record.
It was also just shy of the American record set by David Walters of Texas, who set the NCAA and national record of 1:31.72 in 2009.
“We feel like it was a good swim, but we feel like he’s capable of better,” Troy said.
Dwyer’s mark came just minutes after he swam the second leg of the 200-yard medley.
Although Dwyer said he was happy with his performance, he felt it may not have been his best.
“I’m not all the way rested, so I think there’s more to come,” Dwyer said. “I wish I would’ve gotten it tonight, but I’m happy with it. It’s not my last (200 free).”
Dwyer’s performance ignited an 800 relay team that finished in 6:13.74 — the fastest mark in the country this season by nearly a nine-second margin and SEC record, although Troy said he thinks his team is capable of even better.
The men also set the nation’s fastest mark in the 200 medley relay this season with a 1:24.94.
“We always have the expectation of winning, but I would say that one was a little more of a toss-up,” Troy said. “I was surprised that we won it by as much as we did.”
On the women’s side, Florida recorded a fourth-place finish in the 200 medley relay and a second-place finish in the 800 freestyle relay.
The 800 relay featured the return of Shara Stafford, who had been out of action since Jan. 10 against Georgia Tech when she had to leave the pool mid-race and be attended to by paramedics.
Stafford swam the first leg of the relay and finished in 1:44.68, which put the Gators in third at that juncture.
“That might have been the best swim of the meet,” Troy said. “From where she was three weeks ago and what she’s gone through … that was a big mental breakthrough for her.”
After Day 1, the men remain in third, while the women have moved into a tie for first.
