Liendo, Bottazzo Capture Second Titles as Gators Shine at SECs
After five days of competition in Knoxville, Tennessee, the Gators are putting on an impressive showing at the SEC Championships. On Friday alone, nine different athletes made it on the podium, ranging from individual champions, silver and bronze medalists, and yet another winning relay team.
Sophomore Anita Bottazzo (200-yard breaststroke) and senior Josh Liendo (50-yard freestyle) claimed their second individual titles of these conference championships. Freshman Grace Rabb finished as runner-up to Bottazzo. Distance swimmers Ahmed Jaouadi and Ahmed Hafnaoui, also earned themselves some hardware, finishing in second and third, respectively, in the 500-yard freestyle. As for the divers, sophomore Jesus Gonzalez led the Gators on the platform event with a score of 431.85 his second-place finish overall.
For the second time at this year’s conference championships, another Florida relay team has qualified for NCAAs. The men’s 200-yard freestyle relay, with Liendo, Painter, sophomore Devin Dilger and junior Scotty Buff, punched their ticket to nationals with a time of 1:14.44.
Swimming and Diving Breakdown
Following the prelims, all Gators competing in the 200 breaststroke, both men and women, qualified for the evening race. The one-two punch of Bottazzo and Rabb in the finals served as a highlight from the day, with seven other swimmers contributing to Florida’s team points.
For the past four seasons, the 50 freestyle title had belonged to former Tennessee Volunteer Jordan Crooks. This year, with his time of 18.42, Florida’s Liendo was crowned champion in the event for the first time in his collegiate career. Sophomore Alex Painter competed alongside Liendo in the A Finals, placing sixth with a time of 18.84.
In the men’s 500 freestyle, Jaouadi’s race, completed in 4:09.28, makes him the program’s second-fastest swimmer in the event. Only a freshman and already qualified for the NCAAs, Jaouadi’s future at Florida looks bright. Hafnaoui’s time of 4:10.18 is ranked fifth all-time in Florida history.
Gonzalez, last year’s bronze medalist in the platform dive competition, scaled the podium this season and added a silver medal to his collection. Freshman Jesus Agundez, with a score of 375.55, placed sixth in the event.
Entering the last day, Florida’s men stand in second place with 1056 points, trailing Texas by 54.5. With 804.5 points, the women remain in third behind Texas and Tennessee.
What’s Next?
It all comes down to Saturday’s results. The meet’s final events include the 200-yard IM, the 100-yard freestyle, the 200-yard backstroke, 400-yard freestyle relay, and the women’s platform dive. Florida will make a last-ditch effort to stop the Longhorns from repeating as conference champions as it seeks to bring the title back to Gainesville.
Category: Gator Sports, Gators Swimming and Diving, NCAA, SEC
