The Alabama swimming and diving team won 30 of 31 events to claim a commanding victory over Delta State in the team’s season opener on Friday.
In addition to sweeping the relay events, the Crimson Tide saw a pair of individual wins from Leonardo Alcantara (500, 1,000 free), Bernardo Bondra de Almeida (200 free, 100 fly) and Tommy Hagar (100 back, 200 IM) on the men’s side as Mackenzie Brandt (200, 500 free), Kate Christian (200 back, 200 IM) and Victoria Raymond (100, 200 fly) secured two individual wins on the women’s side.
Overall, Alabama had 29 swimmers and divers, 13 males and 16 females, claim a first-place finish in either a relay or individual event.
From Head Coach Margo Geer:
“Thank you to Delta State for hosting us today. This meet is always a great opportunity to see our newcomers compete and gauge our areas of improvement with our returners. It was also exciting to have Emily Jones and Jada Scott return to competition. We’re excited for the win and now will focus on how to improve from here and prepare for the rest of the season.”
Alabama men’s winners
- Brendan Conners, Kaique Alves, Bondra De Almeida and Toni Dragoja combined for a time of 1:28.78 to win the opening event of the day, the 200 medley relay
- Bondra De Almeida and Dragoja would claim their second relay title at the conclusion of the meet as Bondra De Alemeida, Charlie Hawke, Dragoja and Leyton Roe went 1:21.21 in the 200 freestyle relay
- Overall, Bondra De Almeida had four event wins, adding individual victories in the 200 freestyle (1:40.88) and the 100 butterfly (47.91) to his day
- Leonardo Alcantara swept the distance events, posting a time of 4:21.50 in the 500 free and a time of 9:33.59 in the 1,000 free
- Hagar clocked a time of 47.64 in the 100 backstroke and a time of 1:48.29 in the 200 individual medley to claim a pair of wins in the meet
- In addition to helping the 200 medley relay team to a first-place finish, Alves went 54.09 to record the top spot in the 100 breaststroke
- Dragoja recorded a time of 44.04 in the 100 freestyle to take the top swim by over a second
- Lance Johnson swam a time of 1:49.47 in the 200 butterfly for his first win with the Tide as Kyle Micallef claimed his first title as a UA swimmer in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.21
- Isiah Hilton scored a 243.60 on the 3m board to pace the men’s diving team
- Freshmen Jarrett Payne and Noah Saylor won their first collegiate events, claiming the top time in the 200 backstroke (1:50.16) and 200 breaststroke (2:03.68), respectively
Alabama women’s winners
- Emily Jones, Kasia Norman, Lockett Bowley and Emma Sundermeyer posted a time of 1:42.64 for a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay
- After going 1:50.70 in the 200 freestyle, Mackenzie Brandt recorded a 4:58.78 in the 500 freestyle to win the event by over four seconds
- Christian tallied a win in the 200 backstroke (2:02.79) before claiming the top time in the 200 individual medley (2:06.76) by over two and a half seconds
- Raymond swept the butterfly events at the meet, swimming a 54.45 in the 100-yard event and a 2:02.32 in the 200-yard race
- Liberty Williams dominated the 1,000 freestyle, securing a time of 10:11.65 to win the event by over 17 seconds
- Emily Jones earned an individual victory in the 100 backstroke, topping the field by nearly two seconds with a 54.54
- Jada Scott swam a 1:03.89 to win the 100 breaststroke, while Sydney Sanders claimed the top time in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:23.41
- In the 50 freestyle, Charlotte Rosendale took the top time by three tenths of a second, recording a time of 23.35
- Kailyn Winter added a win for Alabama in the 100 freestyle with a time of 51.45
- Kylie Payne topped the 1m board, recording 255.15, while Rin Drudge topped the 3m board with a 264.53
- The 200 freestyle relay team of Emily Jones, Winter, Ella Jones and Maggie Ella Robbins closed the day going 1:34.02 for a first-place finish
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Alabama athletics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
