Kennedi Dobson Impresses in Georgia Win Over Florida; Gator Men Dominate
Fierce rivals Georgia and Florida faced off Friday afternoon in Athens, and both teams came away with one victory. The Georgia women, powered by a strong performance from Kennedi Dobson, came out on top 197-97, the team’s first win over the Gators since 2020, while Florida’s men beat the Bulldogs 191-107.
Dobson captured first place in the 1000 freestyle in 9:21.30, crushing her best time by almost eight seconds and becoming the eighth-fastest performer ever in the event. Later on, Dobson swam a time of 48.61 to win the 100 free, with teammates Helena Jones, Marie Landreneau and Marin Clem making it a 1-2-3-4 sweep for the Bulldogs.
Dobson swam a time of 1:57.34 to win the 200 IM for her third individual triumph, and then she split 3:17.65 as Georgia triumphed in the 400 free relay. Ella Antoniewski, Jones and Landreneau joined Dobson on a team that clocked 3:17.65.
Georgia began the meet with a 1-2 finish in the 200 medley relay, with the top team of Virginia Hinds, Charlotte Headland, Hayden Hollingsworth and Jones winning in 1:38.19. Headland won the 100 breaststroke (1:00.76) and 200 breaststroke (2:12.27), and Hollingsworth dominated the 100 butterfly by almost two seconds in 53.15.
Landreneau topped the 200 free in 1:45.68 while Maya Schweikert came through in the 100 backstroke (52.40) as well as the 200-yard event (1:53.78). Izzy Beu placed first in the 200 butterfly (1:57.95), and the 50 free went to Katie Belle Sikes in 22.90. Clarke Neace placed first in the 500 free (4:42.06).
Florida’s only women’s wins came in diving. Alexa Fulton won 3-meter (304.73) while teammate Camyla Monroy placed first on 1-meter (344.25).
The Gators produced a strong performance on the men’s side, beginning with a 200 medley relay win from Jonny Marshall, Nil Cadevall, Tal Pearson and Devin Dilger in 1:26.52. Marshall put up a time of 47.50 for first in the 100 back, with teammate Scotty Buff just behind (47.64) and Florida’s Caleb Maldari third to complete the sweep. Cadevall was first in the 100 breast (53.81) and 200 breast (1:57.78), and Dilger went 19.52 to dominate the 50 free.
Dilger returned to win the 100 free in 43.29, more than a second clear of any other swimmer. Luke Corey came through in the 1000 free (9:03.29), and Aiden Norman finished five seconds better than any other swimmer in the 200 back (1:43.61). In diving, Jesus Agundez Mora won 1-meter (382.73) and 3-meter (412.05).
Cadevall finished as his team’s top performer on the day when he emerged victorious in the 400 IM, dominating the butterfly and breaststroke legs to win in 3:52.20. The team of Dilger, Norman, Buff and Marvin Johnson capped off the win with a time of 2:54.46 for first in the 400 free relay.
Georgia’s Tomas Koski took wins in the 200 free (1:34.56) and 500 free (4:22.93) while Jacob Johnson topped the 200 fly (1:44.26) and 100 fly (46.54).
