The SMU women’s swimming and diving team won its sixth title at the 12th annual SMU Women’s Swimming and Diving Classic Saturday night. The Mustangs finished in the top two in 10 out of 12 events.

SMU totaled 320 points and only defeated the No. 1 ranked Florida Gators (308) by 12. The 12-point victory margin was the second closest margin recorded in Classic history.

The 200-yard freestyle relay team that included Candace Blackman, Leane Darling, Roxane Akradi and Celina Lemmen closed out the Classic Saturday night and set a new meet and pool record to seal the victory.

“I was really stoked. All the girls did such an amazing job because we knew what we had to do to win the Classic and we did it,” said Blackman.

SMUs 400 free relay team closed the gap on the Gators after taking first place with a time of 3:24.10. SMU sophomores Katie Roberts (4:42.9) and Anja Carman (4:48.96) swept the consolation and championship heats of the 500 free and gave SMU its first lead at the 2005 Classic. After the 200 back and 200 breast, Florida regained a slight lead heading into the diving competition.

South Carolina’s Tracey Richardson won both the one-meter (255.05) on Friday and the three-meter (265.40) diving event on Saturday and was named high-point diver of the event. SMU junior Kristen Schild scored 225.00 in the one-meter and 234.50 in the three-meter and helped keep the Mustangs within reach of the Gators.

SMU took over the lead after the 100-yard freestyle event when Blackman placed first (50.65) in the championship final just ahead of U.S. Olympian Dana Vollmer from Florida.

The Mustangs earned just enough points to remain in the lead after the 200 fly and the 200 IM and defeated the Gators with the 400 free relay win.

“We were trilled to beat Florida a No. 1 ranked team. It’s such an amazing accomplishment to come out in favor so early in the competition because it will give the team confidence going into the season,” said Blackman.