Indian River State College has kept their event-winning record perfect through three days at the 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association championships on Friday with 12 wins in 12 events. Despite a bit of a dip in the temperature at the outdoor Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex, there were some very good swims, and a National Record broken at the meet.
In the very first individual race of the day, Indian River freshman Barbara Caraballo swam a 4:18.64, which broke her own National Record set in December by three seconds. In total, she knocked five-and-a-half seconds off of the old record this season.
Grace Conlon from Iowa Lakes made a rare penetration onto the medal podium, placing 2nd in 4:36.38.
The men’s 400 IM went to Indian River’s Alec Scott, who improved his seed time by almost 13 seconds to take his second individual title of the meet in 3:56.27. His teammate Evan Jacob had a more modest, but still impressive, six-second drop for a 3:59.29 and 2nd place. In total, Indian River took the top five spots in the men’s race.
Yurie Nakano took a pair of events on the day for Indian River. First, she won the 100 fly in 54.11, which is just a hair slower than she was to win last season. She then added a 55.10 win in the 100 back, beating out teammate Shelby Leonard (56.45). Nakano is committed to go to North Carolina State next season to continue her educational and athletic career.
The men’s 100 fly was won by Heinrich Alberts in 48.09, as part of another 1-5 finish. His teammate Stefan Stojmenovic was 2nd in 48.42, and Shota Nakano was 3rd in 49.98.
Josh Oathout won the men’s 100 back in 48.47, with Stojmenovic again placing 2nd, this time in 49.23. Oathout was the runner-up in the 200 IM on Thursday, but did have the fastest backstroke split as a precursor to this win.
Josefine Hippi won the women’s 200 free in 1:50.20, beating out teammate Shelby Leonard (1:51.22). Those two were the middle two legs of the 800 free relay that very nearly broke the record, missing by just a few tenths.
Adam Wise won the men’s 200 free in 1:38.98, holding off a late charge by both his teammate Michael Ragan (1:39.10) and McLennan Community College’s Michael Klugo (1:40.50). That swim isn’t quite as good for Wise as the 1:37.8 that he went on the 800 free relay, but was still good enough for his first individual title of the meet.
The women’s 100 breast went to Indian River’s Patricia Casellas in 1:03.97; as the holder of four of the six Puerto Rican records in the breaststroke races, she’s arguably the best female breaststroker in Puerto Rico’s history.
The men’s 100 breast went to Florida State commit Marc Rojas in 55.70, though just barely over teammate Shota Nakano. Rojas is the defending NJCAA Champion in the 1650 free, believe-it-or-not, but over the summer and into this season has done a lot of work to convert his specialty to the breaststrokes with much success.
Indian River also swept the night’s relays, the 200 medleys. The women won in 1:43.26 ahead of Iowa Lakes (1:52.51) and McLennan (1:54.56).
The Indian River men swam a 1:30.44, including a 22.5 leadoff from Sojemovic. Darton College took 2nd in 1:35.54, and Iowa Lakes placed 3rd in 1:35.98.
Team Scores
Indian River continues to run away with the team titles, and while the top three are beginning to settle out in the women’s meet, the men’s meet has a great battle for 2nd place going on.
Women’s scores:
- Indian River – 1201
- Iowa Lakes CC – 626
- South Georgia State College – 526
- Monroe CC – 409
- Darton College – 392
- Ocean County College – 333
- Suny Delhi Broncos – 270
- Jamestown CC – 235
- Herkimer County CC – 232
- FIT – 73
- Lincoln College – 60
- Genessee CC – 38
- Mercyhurst NE – 21
Men’s scores:
- Indian River – 1257
- South Georgia State College – 655.5
- Darton College – 641.5
- Iowa Lakes CC – 610
- Monroe CC – 478
- Ocean CC – 389
- Suny Delhi Broncos – 203
- Genesee CC – 145
- Jamestown CC – 116
- Lincoln College – 96
