2022 CAA Championships: Missy Cundiff Cracks Record with 22.26 50 Free on day 2

2022 COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS

• February 16-19, 2022
• Christiansburg Aquatic Center, Christiansburg, VA
• Championship Central 
• Results on Meet Mobile as “2022 CAA Swimming and Diving Championship”

DAY 1 RESULTS

DAY 2 RESULTS

Team Scores

MEN

1. UNCW – 326
2. Drexel – 218
3. Towson – 217
4. Delaware – 208
5. William & Mary – 100

WOMEN

1. William & Mary – 249
2. UNCW – 245
3. Towson – 180
4. Drexel – 178
5. Delaware – 159
6. Northeastern – 153

William and Mary is holding a tight lead in the women’s team standings following day 2 of the CAA Championships, while the UNCW men have opened up a huge lead.

The UNCW men were led in part by freshman Sam O’Brien, who won the men’s 500 free in decisive fashion. O’Brien was only half a second ahead of Drexel freshman Alessio Gianni at the halfway point of the race, but he then grew that lead to a little over 3 seconds through the back half of the race. O’Brien finished in 4:23.83, marking UNCW’s first men’s 500 free CAA title since 2003.

UNCW’s Henderson Louviere took the men’s 200 IM for the 2nd year in a row. He established a lead of 1.50 seconds at the halfway point of the race, and was able to hold his lead through the breast and free legs. Louviere touched in 1:46.24, just ahead of Brian Benzing (Towson), who was 2nd with a 1:46.62.

UNCW also won the men’s 400 medley relay, where William Barker (47.82), Gianmichael D’Alessandro (52.97), Henderson Louviere (46.33), and Kenneth Lowe (44.05) combined for a 3:11.17.

William and Mary’s Missy Cundiff broke the CAA meet record in the women’s 50 free, touching first in 22.26. The time was well off Cundiff’s season best (and lifetime best) of 21.98, which she swam at the West Virginia Invite in November.

Towson’s Michael Fazio took the men’s 50 free in 19.82, becoming the first Towson swimmer to win the event since 2007.

Delaware grabbed a win in the women’s 200 IM, where Mira Selling finished in 2:00.60. Selling was particularly strong on the freestyle leg, swimming a 28.06 on that 50.

UNCW picked up women’s wins in the 500 free and 3-meter diving. In the 500, Brooke Knisely swam a 4:44.66, shattering the UNCW record by almost 5 seconds with the performance. She also beat the rest of the field by 5.3 seconds, establishing a lead on the first 50 and continuing to grow it throughout the race. Courtney Klausen won diving with a score of 302.10.

Drexel won the women’s 400 medley relay, with Federica Nocera (55.23), Megan Sicinski (1:01.30), Chelsea Gravereaux (53.59), and Lera Nasedkina (49.93) teaming up for a 3:40.05.