2023 NCAA Division III Championships: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2023 NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN’S AND MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Dates: Wednesday, March 15 – Saturday, March 18, 2023
• Location: Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC
• Times: Prelims 10:00 AM / Finals 6:00 PM
• Defending Champs: Kenyon women (1x) & Emory men (1x)
• Fan Guide
• Results Page
• Women’s Psych Sheet
• Men’s Psych Sheet
• Live Streaming on NCAA.com
• Live Results
• Results on MeetMobile: “NCAA DIII Championships”
• Day 1 Finals Live Recap

THURSDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

The second day of the 2023 DIII NCAA Championships is here. This morning’s prelims session will feature heats of the 200 free relay, 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 400 medley relay, and men’s 1-meter diving. First, let’s take a look at the team standings through the first day of the meet:

TEAM STANDINGS THRU WEDNESDAY (TOP TEN)

WOMEN

1. Denison – 107
2. Kenyon – 90 (tie)
3. Emory – 90 (tie)
4. Williams – 77
5. Tufts – 69.5
6. Chicago – 59.5
7. Hope – 46
8. NYU – 44
9. MIT – 39
10. Pomona-Pitzer – 36.5

MEN

1. Emory – 110.5
2. Kenyon – 80.5
3. Chicago – 65
4. MIT – 62
5. Johns Hopkins – 57
6. Calvin – 50
7. Williams – 46
8. Bates – 45
9. Denison – 37 (tie)
10. NYU – 37 (tie)

Men’s 500 free champion Patrick Pema (Emory) comes in as the top seed in the men’s 200 free this morning, entering with a 1:35.92. That time is notably just under the meet record mark of 1:36.00, which was set last year. It’s also just odd the NCAA DII Record of 1:35.52, which was also set last year.

The women’s 200 free has a trio of swimmers seeded at 1:48. Denison Sophomore Taryn Wisner is the top seed this morning, boasting a season best of 1:48.55. She’s followed closely by senior teammate Tara Culibrk, who is seeded second with a 1:48.73. NYU freshman Kaley McIntyre is the third seed, coming in with a 1:48.78. McIntyre won the women’s 50 free last night with a 22.78, while Culibrk came in second in the event (22.81).

Chicago junior Jesse Ssengonzi won the men’s 100 fly last year in 46.77, setting a new meet record in the processs. This year, Ssengonzi has been as fast as 46.85 in the event, which has earned him the top seed as we head into prelims.

Tufts freshman Lily Klinginsmith leads the way in the women’s 100 fly, coming into the meet with a season best of 53.56.

Kenyon senior Bryan Fitzgerald won the men’s 400 IM last year and returns to defend his title today. Fitzgerald is the top seed coming into the meet, having swum a 3:52.21. That time comes in well off the 3:47.62 Fitzgerald swam to win the event last year, so we’ll be looking to see how close to that mark he gets today.

After winning the women’s 200 IM decisively last night, Williams sophomore Sophia Verkleeran enters as the top seed in the women’s 400 IM this morning.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 1:30.39, Kenyon – 2022
• Meet Record: 1:30.39, Kenyon – 2022
• 2022 Champion: Kenyon – 1:30.39

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Emory – 1:32.71
2. Kenyon – 1:32.93
3. Tufts – 1:32.99
4. Pomona-Pitzer – 1:33.16
5. JHU – 1:33.16
6. Denison – 1:33.35
7. MIT – 1:33.44
8. NYU – 1:33.87

Emory’s quartet of senior Caroline Maki (23.13), senior Samantha Kass (23.46), freshman Penelope Celtnieks (23.32), fifth year Taylor Leone (22.80) combined for a 1:32.71 to lead the 200 free relay heats this morning.

Both Emory and defending champion Kenyon, the No. 2 seed with a 1:32.93, were about a second off their season-best marks. Senior Ella Campbell (23.37), sophomore Sydney Geboy (23.43), freshman Lisa Torrecillas-Jouault (23.43), and senior Alexandra White (22.63) made up Kenyon’s team, with White posting the fastest split in the field.

Tufts also snuck under 1:33 with a 1:32.99 courtesy of senior Elle Morse (23.55), junior Jillian Cudney (23.17), Lily Klinginsmith (23.17), and senior Katelin Ulmer (23.10).

NYU freshman Kaley McIntyre threw down the second-fastest leadoff split in the field with a 23.14, helping her squad secure the last qualifying spot with a 1:33.87. McIntyre’s previous best was a 23.26 from last month’s University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships before clocking a 22.78 to win the 50 free last night.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 1:18.06, Kenyon – 2012
• Meet Record: 1:18.06, Kenyon – 2012
• 2022 Champion: MIT – 1:19.10

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Calvin – 1:19.90
2. Emory – 1:19.97
3. Kenyon – 1:20.13
4. Chicago – 1:20.37
5. SUNY Geneseo – 1:21.04
6. MIT – 1:21.17
7. Bates – 1:21.21
8. Carnegie Mellon – 1:21.36

Noah Holstege (19.74), Jacob Heeres (20.12), Forrest Peterson (20.04), and Corey Campbell (20.00) helped the Calvin men defend their top seed in the 200 free relay. Holstege had the only sub-20 leadoff in the field, just a couple tenths off his personal-best 19.51 from last month, to give Calvin an early lead that they never relinquished.

Emory was also under 1:20 at 1:19.97 thanks to Nicholas Goudie (20.05), Patrick Pema (20.10), Caden Bjornstad (20.03), and Colin Lafave (19.79).

Kenyon (1:20.13) and Chicago (1:20.37) were separated by just a couple tenths in the battle for the final spot on the podium. Daniel Brooks (19.58) and Mart Niehoff (19.95) both tallied sub-20 splits for Kenyon while Chicago anchor Arthur Kiselnikov added a sub-20 split at 19.94.

WOMEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 4:13.14, Caroline Wilson (Williams) – 2012
• Meet Record: 4:13.14, Caroline Wilson (Williams) – 2012
• 2022 Champion: Molly Craig (Williams) – 4:16.83

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Neely Burns (Trinity) – 4:21.00
2. Sophia Verkleeren (Williams) – 4:21.15
3. Savannah Sargent (Denison) – 4:21.90
4. Tara Witkowski (Denison) – 4:22.18
5. Jordyn Wentzel (St. Kate’s) – 4:22.22
6. Gabriella Wei (Kenyon) – 4:23.46
7. Augusta Lewis (C-M-S) – 4:23.52
8. Esme Wright (Denison) – 4:24.01

Trinity freshman Neely Burns shaved .76 seconds off her personal best with a 4:21.00 to lead the 400 IM prelims. She was just .15 seconds ahead of Williams sophomore Sophia Verkleeren (4:21.15), who came in as the top seed with a 4:17.24 from last month’s NESCAC Championships.

Denison senior Savannah Sargent took the third seed with a 4:21.90 as the only other swimmer sub-4:22 in this morning’s heats.

MEN’S 400 INDIVIDUAL RELAY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 3:46.62, Harrison Curley (Kenyon) – 2015
• Meet Record: 3:46.62, Harrison Curley (Kenyon) – 2015
• 2022 Champion: Bryan Fitzgerald (Kenyon) – 3:47.62

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Larry Yu (Pomona-Pitzer) – 3:52.09
2. Danny Sibley (Wash U.) – 3:52.11
3. Ryan Gibbons (Emory) – 3:53.66
4. Benjamin Thorsen (Emory) – 3:53.89
5. Gavin Formon (TCNJ) – 3:54.22
6. Bryan Fitzgerald (Kenyon) – 3:54.77
7. Marcell Milo-Sidlo (Chicago) – 3:54.80
8. Ethan Manske (Kenyon) – 3:55.14

Pomona-Pitzer junior Larry Yu lowered his lifetime best in the 400 IM by over a second with a 3:52.09 to lead prelims.

Wash U sophomore Danny Sibley also clocked a huge drop with a 3:52.11, taking over two seconds off his personal-best 3:54.33 from last month’s UAA Championships as he finished just .02 seconds behind Yu.

Emory’s Ryan Gibbons (3:53.66) and Benjamin Thorsen (3:53.89) were also under 3:54 to claim the next two qualifying spots behind Yu and Sibley.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 52.64, Kirsten Nitz (Wheaton) – 2014
• Meet Record: 52.64, Kirsten Nitz (Wheaton) – 2014
• 2022 Champion: Crile Hart (Kenyon) – 53.21

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Alex Turvey (Pomona-Pitzer) – 54.19
2. Lily Klinginsmith (Tufts) – 54.29
3. Emma Pritchett (Denison) – 54.54
4. Samantha Kilcoyne (Williams) – 54.68
5. Kate Brush (Colorado College) – 54.93
6. Caroline Maki (Emory) – 55.03
7. Taylor Leone (Emory) – 55.16
8. Maggie Farrell (Calvin) – 55.28

We should be in for an exciting showdown tonight between top qualifier Alex Turvey of Pomona-Pitzer (54.19) and Tufts freshman Lily Klinginsmith, who qualified second just a tenth behind (54.29). Klinginsmith had the top entry time with a 53.56, four-tenths ahead of Turvey, but couldn’t quite catch her in this morning’s heats.

Denison sophomore Emma Pritchett took the third qualifying spot with a 54.54, while Williams junior Samantha Kilcoyne (54.68) and Colorado College senior Kate Brush (54.93) also joined Pritchett under the 55-second mark.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 46.46, David Fitch (Kenyon) – 2021
• Meet Record: 46.77, Jesse Ssengonzi (Chicago) – 2022
• 2022 Champion: Jesse Ssengonzi (Chicago) – 46.77

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Jesse Ssengonzi (Chicago) – 46.47 *MEET RECORD
2. K.T. Cheran (Kenyon) – 46.95
3. Tanner Filion (Whitman) – 47.41
4. Liam McDonnell (John Carroll) – 47.42
5. Marko Krtinic (Kenyon) – 47.73
6. Neil Mortimer (Colby) – 47.75
7. Leo Han (NYU) – 47.79
8. Bryan Sullivan (Millsaps) – 47.94

Chicago junior Jesse Ssengonzi scared the NCAA D3 record with a 46.47 to lead prelims by about half a second. He was just .01 seconds off the 46.46 tallied by Kenyon’s David Fitch in 2021, but he did break his own meet record — and lifetime best — of 46.77 from last year’s NCAAs. Ssengonzi’s season-best time this year was a 46.85.

Kenyon’s K.T. Cheran joined Ssengonzi under the 47-second barrier with a 46.95, as he could also be a threat to take down this NCAA record tonight. Whitman’s Tanner Filion (47.41) and John Carroll’s Liam McDonnell (47.42) were separated by just .01 seconds in the battle for third place.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 1:44.82, Kendra Stern (Amherst) – 2011
• Meet Record: 1:44.82, Kendra Stern (Amherst) – 2011
• 2022 Champion: Claire Brennan (Tufts) – 1:48.46

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Tara Culibrk (Denison) – 1:48.83
2. Kaley McIntyre (NYU) – 1:48.96
3. Claire Brennan (Tufts) – 1:49.29
4. Taryn Wisner (Denison) – 1:49.53
5. Karen Zhao (Chicago) – 1:49.54
6. Anna Pfeufer (Denison) – 1:49.76
7. Grace Wenger (Bates) – 1:49.95
8. Kristin Cornish (Johns Hopkins) – 1:50.27

Chicago sophomore Karen Zhao was a bit of a surprise A-finalist here in the 200 free as she clocked a 1:49.54 to qualify fifth and take nearly a second off her previous-best 1:50.26. She finished behind a pair of Denison swimmers in Taryn Wisner (1:49.53) and top qualifier Tara Culibrk (1:48.83) as well as NYU’s Kaley McIntyre (1:48.96) and Tufts’ Claire Brennan (1:49.29).

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 1:35.52, Jamie Lovette Williams) – 2022
• Meet Record: 1:36.00, Jamie Lovette (Williams) – 2022
• 2022 Champion: Jamie Lovette (Williams) – 1:36.00

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Mason Kelber (Wash U) – 1:37.14
2. James McChesney (TCNJ) – 1:37.15
3. Nick Goudie (Emory) – 1:37.77
4. Nathaniel Yeoh (NYU) – 1:37.79
5. Yurii Kosian (Kenyon) – 1:37.80
6. Pat Pema (Emory) – 1:37.81
7. Oliver Schalet (Williams) – 1:38.06
8. Arthur Kiselnikov (Chicago) – 1:38.22

Wash U senior Mason Kelber (1:37.14) edged The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) junior James McChesney (1:37.15) by just .01 seconds for the top qualifying spot in the 200 free. Kelber dropped a couple tenths off his previous best from December while McChesney added slightly to her top-seeded time.

The battle for third place was almost as close with Emory junior Nick Goudie (1:37.77) out-touching NYU sophomore Nathaniel Yeoh (1:37.79) by .02 seconds. Goudie went 1:36.24 at last year’s NCAAs, while Yeoh shaved a couple tenths off his personal best. Kenyon junior Yurri Kosian was right in the mix as well, clocking a 1:37.80 to take .37 seconds off his lifetime best from last year’s NCAAs.

WOMEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 3:38.05, Kenyon – 2022
• Meet Record: 3:38.05, Kenyon – 2022
• 2022 Champion: Kenyon – 3:38.05

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Williams – 3:42.34
2. Kenyon – 3:42.94
3. Denison – 3:43.62
4. Emory – 3:43.80
5. MIT – 3:43.93
6. NYU – 3:44.58
7. Chicago – 3:45.29
8. Pomona-Pitzer – 3:46.22

Williams sophomore Sophia Verkleeren (55.05), junior Amanda Wager (1:01.62), junior Samantha Kilcoyne (54.34), and senior Georgia Panitz (51.33) combined for the top qualifying time of 3:42.34.

Top-seeded Kenyon was nearly three seconds off its season-best time with a 3:42.94 courtesy of senior Olivia Smith (55.05), sophomore Jennah Fadely (1:00.73), senior Anna Axas (56.61), and senior Alexandra White (50.55).

Denison (3:43.62), Emory (3:43.80), and MIT (3:43.93) were only separated by a few tenths of a second as they vie for the final spot on the podium tonight.

MEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY – PRELIMS

• NCAA Record: 3:10.51, Emory – 2017
• Meet Record: 3:10.51, Emory – 2017
• 2022 Champion: Chicago – 3:11.99

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Kenyon – 3:12.49
2. MIT – 3:13.36
3. Chicago – 3:13.40
4. Emory – 3:13.43
5. Williams – 3:13.99
6. Denison – 3:15.10
7. Tie: Johns Hopkins – 3:15.50 / Tufts – 3:15.50

Kenyon knocked .18 seconds off its top-seeded entry time to take the top qualifying spot with a 3:12.49, nearly a full second ahead of second-seeded MIT (3:13.36). Kenyon junior Daniel Brooks (48.07), senior Luis Sebastian Weekes (54.26), junior Marko Krtinic (46.64), and freshman Djordje Dragojlovic (43.52) helped clinch the top seed for the Owls.

MIT senior Adam Janicki recorded the fastest leadoff split in the field with a 47.67 on his 100 back leg. His lifetime best is a 46.99 from December. MIT also had the fastest freestyle anchor in the field thanks to Tobe Onochi’s 42.65.

Chicago also shaved a couple tenths off its entry time with a 3:13.40 to edge Emory (3:13.43) by just .03 seconds for third place in prelims. Williams’ quartet also finished under 3:14 with a 3:13.99.