2016 NCAA Division III Championships – Day 2 Finals Live Recap

Division III Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships

 

Men’s 200-yard Freestyle Relay – Finals

  • NCAA DIII Record: 1:18.06 3/22/2012, Kenyon (Somers, Turk, Richardson, Ramsey)

Kenyon got out to an early lead with a 20.21 leadoff from senior Ryan Funk, 19:98 from senior Percy Gates, and 20.12 from senior Joey Duronio. Emory was trailing by .62 when yesterday’s 50 free champion, sophomore Oliver Smith, took over. Smith split a stunning 18.90 over the final 50 yards to take Emory past Kenyon for a 1:19.83 to 1:20.45 victory. Emory’s first three legs were by freshman Mathias Kolleck (20.45), sophomore Alex Hardwick (20.08), and sophomore Aaron Schwartz (20.40). Kenyon junior Austin Pu anchored the Lords with 20.14.

Keene State took third place by .01 as senior Greg Youngstrom (20.60), sophomore Christopher Barriss (20.17), senior Cole Hogg (20.79), and junior Ryan Boraski (19.55) turned in a 1:21.11 performance. Denison was fourth with 1:21.12.

Top 8:

  1. Emory 1:19.83
  2. Kenyon 1:20.45
  3. Keene St. 1:21.11
  4. Denison 1:21.12
  5. CMS 1:21.37
  6. TCNJ 1:21.64
  7. Wash U. MO 1:22.06
  8. Rowan University 1:22.24

Women’s 200-yard Freestyle Relay – Finals

  • NCAA DIII Record: 1:31.80 3/18/2010, Emory (Westby, Ciardelli, Wobler, Pavlak)

Emory won the women’s 200 free relay and took down the NCAA DIII record in the process. Denison, Kenyon and Emory were all out together, trading stroke for stroke through the first two legs of the relay before the Eagles shut it down over the second half. Freshman Fiona Muir (23.13), Marcela SanchezAizcorbe (22.84), freshman Megan Taylor (22.69) and junior Marissa Bergh (22.76) combined for 1:31.42, taking .38 out of the previous national mark. Denison also came in under the old record, finishing second in 1:31.79 with Carolyn Kane (23.11), senior Ashley Yearwood (22.80), senior Kate Wright (23.18), and senior Mary Van Leuven (22.70).

Kenyon (Hannah Lobb, Abby Wilson, Katie Kaestner, and Jenner McLeod) came in third with 1:32.07. NYU edged Johns Hopkins by .01 for fourth. Eau Claire was sixth and Calvin touched out Wheaton, also by .01, for seventh.

Top 8:

  1. Emory 1:31.42
  2. Denison 1:31.79
  3. Kenyon 1:32.07
  4. N Y U 1:33.78
  5. Johns Hopkins 1:33.79
  6. U W-Eau Claire 1:34.08
  7. Calvin 1:34.27
  8. Wheaton IL 1:34.28

Men’s 400-yard Individual Medley – Finals

  • NCAA DIII Record: 3:46.62 3/19/2015 Harrison Curley, Kenyon

Denison junior Jackson Lindell added to his national title collection with a dominating win in the 400 IM. In his first foray under 3:50, Lindell came away with the victory in 3:47.63, a mere 1.01 off the NCAA record. There was an excellent battle for second between Kenyon classmates Ian Reardon and Arthur Conover. Reardon was up by 1 second after the butterfly and 1.6 at the back-to-breast wall. He extended his lead to 3.5 seconds after breaststroke but Conover came home in 52.7 to his 56.0. At the touch it was Reardon in 3:53.59 for second and Conover with 3:53.89 for third.

NYU sophomore Austin Palmer dropped 2.1 seconds off his prelims time and came to the wall in 3:55.63 for fourth. Kenyon’s Mark Newell went 3:56.95 for fifth, just ahead of Connecticut’s Alan Pite. Jeff Anderson of Amherst and MIT’s Brandon McKenzie rounded out the podium.

Top 8:

  1. Jackson Lindell, Denison 3:47.63
  2. Ian Reardon, Kenyon 3:53.59
  3. Arthur Conover, Kenyon 3:53.89
  4. Austin Palmer, N Y U 3:55.63
  5. Mark Newell, Kenyon 3:56.95
  6. Alan Pite, Connecticut 3:57.05
  7. Jeff Anderson, Amherst 3:59.02
  8. Brandon McKenzie, M I T 3:59.16

Women’s 400-yard Individual Medley – Finals

  • NCAA DIII Record: 4:13.14 3/22/2012 Caroline Wilson, Williams

Williams junior Megan Pierce avenged her second-place finish of 2015 with a 4:20.77 win in the women’s 400 IM. Pierce jumped out to an early lead with a quick butterfly, gaining a whole body length over the field. She held onto her lead through the backstroke but was challenged by her teammate, Williams senior Katherine Bennett, who outsplit her by 1.6 seconds. Mount Holyoke senior Cathleen Pruden moved into third after the breaststroke. Kenyon freshman Marysol Arce was in fourth, just ahead of teammate Mariah Williamson, heading into the freestyle leg. Arce then took off, much as she had at the end of the 500 free that she won on Day One. Coming home in 57.7, she passed Bennett and Pruden and almost caught Pierce. Arce earned the silver medal with 4:21.96, ahead of Pruden (4:22.21), Williamson (4:22.56), and Bennett (4:22.66).

Ming-fen Ong of Emory, who was third last year, finished sixth in 4:25.47. Amherst freshman Bridgitte Kwong went 4:27.00 for seventh. Bates junior Sara Daher was eighth in 4:28.36.

Top 8:

  1. Megan Pierce, Williams 4:20.93
  2. Marysol Arce, Kenyon 4:21.99
  3. Cathleen Pruden, Mount Holyoke 4:25.24
  4. Mariah Williamson, Kenyon 4:22.56
  5. Katherine Bennett, Williams 4:22.66
  6. Ong, Ming-fen Emory 4:25.47
  7. Bridgitte Kwong, Amherst 4:27.00
  8. Sara Daher, Bates 4:28.36

Men’s 100-yard Butterfly – Finals

  • NCAA DIII Record: 46.97 3/19/2015 Reed Dalton, Wash U

Washington senior Reed Dalton, who set the record in this event last year, repeated his title in 2016 with 47.22, .25 off his NCAA mark. Dalton had a half body length lead at the 50 wall, seconded by Rose-Hulman senior Orion Martin. The second 50 proved definitive. Williams junior Ben Lin had the fastest back half and touched second with 47.72. Denison senior Rich Andrew was just behind with 47.85. DePauw senior Blake Lehmann went 48.13 for fourth.

St. Thomas senior Mike Lanz, who was third in 2015, finished fifth in 48.28, just ahead of Rose-Hulman’s Martin (48.51). Seventh and eighth went to Christian Josephson of Kenyon (48.61) and Dallas Tarkenton of Mary Washington (49.09).

Top 8:

  1. Reed Dalton, Wash U. MO 47.22
  2. Benjamin Lin, Williams 47.72
  3. Andrew Rich, Denison 47.85
  4. Blake Lehmann, DePauw 48.13
  5. Mike Lanz, St. Thomas 48.28
  6. Orion Martin, Rose-Hulman 48.51
  7. Christian Josephson, Kenyon 48.61
  8. Dallas Tarkenton, Mary Washington 49.09

Women’s 100-yard Butterfly – Finals

  • NCAA DIII Record: 52.64 3/20/2014 Kirsten Nitz, Wheaton (IL)

Current NCAA record-holder, Wheaton senior Kirsten Nitz, won her third 100 fly in four years with 53.56, a second off her national record. Johns Hopkins sophomore Anna Wisniewski , first to turn at the 50, clocked a personal-best 54.77 for second place, moving up two spots from her fourth-place finish a year ago. Colorado College senior Olivia Dilorati was third in 54.83, hitting the wall just ahead of Wash U senior Amanda Stadermann (54.95).

Amherst senior Sarah Conklin, who was runner-up a year ago, placed fifth with 55.25. Denison junior Carolyn Kane touched out Emory junior Marcela Sanchez-Aizcorbe for seventh, 55.58 to 55.59.

Defending champion Emma Waddell of Williams was disqualified.

Top 8:

  1. Kirsten Nitz, Wheaton IL 53.56
  2. Anna Wisniewski, Johns Hopkins 54.77
  3. Olivia Dilorati, Colorado College 54.83
  4. Amanda Stadermann, Wash U. MO 54.95
  5. Sarah Conklin, Amherst 55.25
  6. Carolyn Kane, Denison 55.58
  7. Marcela Sanchez-Aizcorbe Emory 55.59

Men’s 200-yard Freestyle – Finals

  • NCAA DIII Record: 1:36.63 4/8/1988 Dennis Mulvihill, Kenyon
  • Meet Record: 1:36.80 3/20/2015 Karl Mering, Whitman

Washington & Lee sophomore Tommy Thetford clocked a lifetime-best 1:36.87, winning the 200 free by 9/10 and coming within .07 of the meet record. Thetford went out just a tick faster than Johns Hopkins junior Evan Holder, who finished fourth in this event last year, but it was his back half that made all the difference. Thetford split 47.55/49.32 to Holder’s 47.59/50.12; the latter finished second with 1:37.71.

Emory junior Christian Baker took third in 1:38.33, .04 ahead of teammate Thomas Gordon. Denison senior Joe Brunk was .06 back at fifth. Mark Hallman of Pomona-Pitzer went out with the leaders and finished sixth, just .16 behind Brunk. Rounding out the championship final were Hopkins freshman Michael Wohl (1:39.02) and Keene State junior Ryan Boraski (1:39.36).

Top 8:

  1. Thomas Thetford, SO W&L 1:36.87
  2. Evan Holder, JR Johns Hopkins 1:37.71
  3. Christian Baker, JR Emory 1:38.33
  4. Thomas Gordon, FR Emory 1:38.37
  5. Joe Brunk, SR Denison 1:38.43
  6. Mark Hallman, SO Pomona-Pitzer 1:38.59
  7. Michael Wohl, FR Johns Hopkins 1:39.02
  8. Boraski, Ryan JR Keene St. 1:39.36

Last year’s bronze medalist, Emory’s Julia Wawer, found another gear over the last 50 yards and came away with the win in 1:48.88. Wawer’s teammate Cindy Cheng was out first at the 50, and the pair turned together at the 100 giving Eagles fans hope for a 1-2 sweep. Lauren Jones of Williams had a killer third 50 which took her from last at the 100 to fourth at the 150. She then proceeded to pass everyone except Wawer and finished as runner-up with 1:49.74.

Kenyon freshman Abby Wilson had been fourth at the 150 wall; she passed Cheng and wound up third behind Wawer and Jones with 1:49.92. Connecticut senior Samantha Pierce had a great back half as well and she finished fourth with 1:50.03. Kenyon freshman Hannah Orbach-Mandel passed Cheng on her way to finish fifth with 1:50.07. Cheng took sixth, while Denison junior Campbell Costley took seventh in 1:50.57.

Middlebury sophomore Isabel Wyer was a medical scratch.

Top 8:

  1. Julia Wawer, Emory 1:48.88
  2. Lauren Jones, Williams 1:49.74
  3. Abby Wilson, Kenyon 1:49.92
  4. Samantha Pierce, Connecticut 1:50.03
  5. Hannah Orbach-Mandel, Kenyon 1:50.07
  6. Cindy Cheng, Emory 1:50.26
  7. Campbell Costley, Denison 1:50.57

Women’s 1-meter Diving – Finals

  • NCAA DIII Record: 515.90 3/25/2011 Danica Roskos, TCNJ

Kenyon senior Maria Zarka successfully defended her NCAA title on the 1-meter board with a total score of 484.50. SUNY Fredonia’s Meghan Bartlett, who placed seventh last year, was runner-up with 444.75 points. 2015 bronze medalist Sarah Sheridan of Hope College repeated at third with 442.55.

Anna Belson of Ithaca College was fourth with a score of 424.20. She was followed by RIT’s Natalie Snyder (423.40), Sarah Hayhurst of Centre College (408.10), Meghann Kilgallon of SUNY Brockport (405.25), and Veronica Nikolaki of WPI (403.15),

Top 8:

  1. Maria Zarka, Kenyon 484.50
  2. Meghan Bartlett, SUNY Fredonia 444.75
  3. Sarah Sheridan, Hope 442.55
  4. Anna Belson, Ithaca 424.20
  5. Natalie Snyder, RIT 423.40
  6. Sarah Hayhurst, Centre College 408.10
  7. Meghann Kilgallon, SUNY Brockport 405.25
  8. Veronica Nikolaki, WPI 403.15

Men’s 400-yard Medley Relay – Finals

  • NCAA DIII Record: 3:13.49 3/19/2015, Williams (Lin, Tamposi, Ricotta, Nanda)

In what may have been the most exciting race of the evening, the Kenyon quartet of Oscar Anderson (49.15), Trevor Manz (54.00), Josephson (48.04), and Duronio (44.01) earned the gold medal with 3:15.20, only .33 in front of Williams’ Lin (47.63), Jake Tamposi (54.66), Timothy Kostolansky (48.47), and Curtis Maher (44.77).

Wash U had seemingly just out-touched both Kenyon and Williams but upon review, their quartet of Kevin Van Cleave, Michael Lagieski, Dalton, and Ross Brown was disqualified. Lagieski and Dalton had field-leading splits in the middle of the relay. Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins’ Emile Kuyl, Holder, Mark Wilson, and Michael Ashmead earned the bronze medal with 3:16.02.

Top 8:

  1. Kenyon 3:15.20
  2. Williams 3:15.53
  3. Johns Hopkins 3:16.02
  4. Denison 3:16.48
  5. MIT 3:16.69
  6. Emory 3:17.45
  7. NYU 3:18.62

Women’s 400-yard Medley Relay – Finals

  • NCAA DIII Record: 3:40.13 3/21/2013, Kenyon (Oberholzer, Kaestner, Saiz, Townsend)

Emory sophomore Cheng got the Eagles off to a body-length lead with her 54.74 backstroke leadoff, and while no one else had the fastest split in the final, they were all able to keep the rest of the field at bay and log a win with 3:42.76. Cheng was followed by Annelise Kowalsky (1:02.21), Sanchez-Aizcorbe (54.74), and Marissa Bergh (50.33).

Williams (Olivia Jackson, Breanna Nguyen, Waddell, and Jones) just touched out Denison (Ashley Yearwood, Marissa Bednarek, Carolyn Kane, and Mary Van Leuven), 3:43.73 to 3:43.93, for second.

Top 8:

  1. Emory 3:42.76
  2. Williams 3:43.73
  3. Denison 3:43.98
  4. MIT 3:46.35
  5. Kenyon 3:46.48
  6. Amherst 3:46.52
  7. Johns Hopkins 3:46.98
  8. NYU 3:49.70

Men’s Top Ten – Day Two

  1. Kenyon 272.5
  2. Denison 258
  3. Emory 205
  4. Johns Hopkins 152
  5. Williams 115
  6. MIT 99
  7. TCNJ 86
  8. Wash U. MO 85
  9. CMS 67.5
  10. Rowan 63

Women’s Top Ten – Day Two

  1. Emory 270
  2. Kenyon 268
  3. T3 Denison 182
  4. T3 Williams 182
  5. Johns Hopkins 102
  6. Amherst 96
  7. Wheaton IL 90
  8. U W-Eau Claire 82
  9. NYU 81
  10. MIT 71

 

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Noah
8 years ago

Thetford split 18.99 on the 200 free relay at his conference meet

THEO
8 years ago

18.90 from Oliver Smith!!! Pretty sure he is the only D3 swimmer to hit 18 other than Turk. What a breakout year for him. In the next two years I could even see him breaking Turk’s records which seemed so untouchable only four years ago.

Similarly, Thetford is on a tare! In one day he just went from a 50 sprinter who does the 100 and 200 to a 50-200 freestyler. What a swim.

BaldingEagle
8 years ago

I watched on live streaming. I think I heard the PA announcer say “whoa” or “oooh” on that final Wash U exchange. It was a clear jump even on video.

Splash
8 years ago

It’s unfortunate that this meet happens the same weekend as the women’s D1 champs…D3 really isn’t getting any attention at all…

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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