Sports
Beisel Named Southeastern Conf. Swimmer Of Week
Our hometown swimming star continues to shine in college competition.
From the Southeastern Conference:
North Kingstown native Elizabeth Beisel was named the Southeastern Conference Female Swimmer of the Week for her fantastic showing swimming for the University of Florida in dual meets against Missouri and California, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday. The honor marked the eighth time in her career that Beisel has been recognized by the SEC for a weekly performance.
Beisel led the Gators to a 181-109 victory over Missouri on Thursday, and topped off the week with a trio of victories in UFÕs 238-210 loss against Cal. Beisel registered five individual victories in five different events during her three days of competition.
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Facing a California squad consisting of five Olympians, four NCAA Champions and a star-studded freshman class led by four-time 2012 Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin, Beisel showed world class speed. Entering the second day of competition down 135-108, Beisel and the Gators responded by winning seven of 11 events, giving both teams an even 12 to 12 split in events at the end of the meet.
Beisel was phenomenal, winning the 500 freestyle (4:45.91) over Franklin by over five seconds, the 400 IM (4:09.54) by over four seconds over 2013 200 IM NCAA Champion Elizabeth Pelton and heralded freshman Celina Li, and the 200 free in a time of 1:48.15. On the first day of competition, Beisel (1:58.29) was topped by Pelton and Li in the 200 IM as all three swimmers posted the three fastest swims in the country. Li again topped Beisel (1:58.54) in the 200 fly as the athletes posted the top two swims in the nation.
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All of these results came after Beisel led the Gators with a pair of wins against Missouri in Columbia. Beisel touched first in the 1000 freestyle (9:43.79) and the 100 backstroke (54.29). After three meets, Beisel ranks first in the nation in the 500 free and the 400 IM and in the top three in the 200 back, 1000 free, 200 fly and 200 IM.
The Gators will next compete in a dual meet against Georgia on Friday, Nov. 1.
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