NCAA Swimming: Florida Gators Shatter 35-Year Dry Spell to Win the Big One

On Day 1 of the 2024 NCAA Women’s Division I Swimming Championships, spectators witnessed spectacular wins filled with action in both the 200m and 800m medley freestyle relays. Among the competing teams, the Florida Gators secured their first-ever 800m freestyle relay title in the last 35 years, making an unbelievable mark in championship history.

While the NCAA swimming championship record still stands at 6:45:91, set by Stanford in 2017, the Florida Gators came close with a time of 6:48:59 during the current NCAA Championships season.

Top scorers of the NCAA swimming championships

As the official post of Gators Swimming and Diving on X states, “Won as one. Your 2024 800 Freestyle Relay National Champions.” This is significant news as the Florida Gators have recreated history, echoing their victory in the 800m freestyle relay category back in 1989. By clinching the same event 35 years later, the Florida Gators have put an end to Virginia’s NCAA relay winning streak, which began in 2022.

During the recent NCAA swimming championships, all four members of the Florida Gators team, Bella Sims, Isabel Ivey, Emma Weyant, and Cronk, performed exceptionally well to secure their place at the top. On the first day of the event, Bella Sims led the Florida Gators with a remarkable time of 1:41:03, marking the fastest lead-off observed in the field that day.

Following her lead was Isabel Ivey, who swam a 1:41 of her own and extended the Gators’ lead with a split of 1:41:64. Continuing to maintain their lead, Emma Weyant split 1:42:90 as the third swimmer of the women’s Gator team. Lastly, Micayla Cronk anchored the team with a time of 1:43:02 during her second swim. Consequently, it has been observed that the University of Florida’s women’s swimming team has significantly improved their performance since their last SEC event.

Statements from the Champions

The No.2 Florida Gators were declared the record makers of the event, since a huge improvement that they have made from their past SEC scores in February 2024. Etching their names in the 200 medley relay and the 800 freestyle relay, they also made a program and pool record inside the Gabriel Natatorium in Athens. To their latest victory, Emma Weyant had stated, “I think we’ve all done a great job this year of sticking to the process. We’re just trying to keep it all together. This team has been really killing it all year, so we’re excited for the rest of the week.”

Read More: Gretchen Walsh Still Thinks She Hasn’t Reached Her Potential Despite Fastest NCAA Time

While on her first NCAA win, Bella Sims exclaimed, “It’s great to be a Florida Gator. I love this team, and I’m so happy that we were able to accomplish this together.” The recent NCAA Championships also saw the Florida Gators achieve a glorious victory in the 200 medley relay, contributing to the team’s overall success and securing a top-three finish for the Florida Gators.

Read More: Gretchen Walsh Etches Name in History Books at 2024 SEC Championships Shortly After Delivering the Third Fastest Swim