Parker Ament gathered data and contributed to this report.
With numerous top Division III teams in action this past weekend, several top times around the country were posted heading into the second half of the season.
Denison Invite
The Denison men notched the 3rd fastest time in Division III in the 200 freestyle relay. Jack Hill (20.15), Nick Hensel (19.32), Harry Parsons (20.00), and Samuel Hibbert (19.97) combined for an event-winning time of 1:19.44.
Denison Sophomore George Goins notched a final time of 4:24.31, earning him the fastest time in Division III this season. Goins now sits just a second off of his best time from the DIII National Championships last season.
Emory grad student Sammi Thiele won the women’s 200 IM 2:03.07, notching her fastest time this season, and slots her as the 2nd-fastest performer in Division III this season.
On the men’s side, Danison junior Jack Hill swam a massive three-second best time of 1:47.90, clipping the NCAA B cut for the event, and making him the 2nd fastest in the country this season for Division III.
Nick Hensel, a Denison sophomore, became the 6th DIII swimmer to break the 20-second barrier in the 50 free with his prelims swim of 19.96; he then dropped even more time in finals, turning in a better time of 19.82, making him the 3rd fastest Division III performer this season.
Denison senior Emily Harris swam the fastest time in Division III this season in the 400 IM, with her winning time of 4:20.54.
2024’s DIII National Champion, Crow Thorsen of Emory, made his return to competition following a health conflict that kept him out of action last year with his performance in the 400 IM. Thorsen turned in the 5th fastest DIII time this season, clocking 3:53.98.
The men’s 200 free was full of massive performances. Jack Hill broke his own program record of 1:35.76 set in the prelims with his finals time of 1:35.18, making him the 2nd-fastest performer in DIII history, behind James McChesney‘s DIII record of 1:34.74. His teammate Nick Hensel also dropped more than three seconds from his best time to swim the 5th fastest time in DIII this season with his prelims swim of 1:37.25.
In the women’s 800 free relay, Denison swam to the fastest time in the DIII this season in 7:23.28. Leading off that relay was Emily Harris, who clocked 1:49.46, the 3rd-quickest in the country this year, just over a second off of her best time of 1:48.30.
In the men’s 800 free relay, Denison logged the fastest relay time in Division III this season by two seconds in 6:28.19, which notched a new NCAC and school record, and marks the 3rd fastest D3 800 free relay in history.
The men’s 400 free relay also notched an all-time spot for Denison, their final time of 2:54.96 sits as the 7th fastest relay in D3 history, and set a school record, en route to the 2nd fastest relay in the nation this season.
MIT Winter Invite
In the women ‘s 800 free relay, MIT’s Mary Feliz swam the 5th fastest DIII 200 free this season with a massive lifetime best of 1:49.84, lowering her previous best from 1:52.88. The relay, as a whole, became the 2nd-fastest in D3 this year, behind the previously mentioned Denison relay, with a time of 7:23.52.
MIT sophomore Grant Hu led off the men’s 800 free relay in 1:36.94, making him the 5th fastest performer this season. The relay finished in 6:32.35, the 3rd fastest in the country this season.
Maine Collegiate Invite
In the men’s 200 free relay. Bates turned in the fastest time in 1:20.07, the 6th fastest in DIII this season.
Key takeaways from mid season this year:
The men’s and women’s 50 free’s are rly deep this year. Already 7 guys under 20.00 and 2 women under 23 but 4 others at 23.12 or faster.
Men’s 100 free really tells a story with 9 men under 44 seconds and 4 guys already under 43.4 division 3 has never been this deep it’s even deeper in the 2 free.
6 guys already under 1:37 and 2 already under 1:36 at 1:35 low approaching the D3 record. At conference wouldn’t be shocked to see a 1:34.5 and even a 1:34 low winning this year.
Women’s side is mainly Kaley McIntyre. She already broke the 100 free record at… Read more »
Trickle down effect from D1 roster limitations has something to do with it.
Meaning it’s a good thing. The bar is being raised.
honestly, not even. A lot of the juniors and seniors swimming those times in the 50 and 100 have been part of d3 their entire career, and were d3 before these roster cuts. I think they’re just getting fast all around the same time, and props to everyone, its going to make a really interesting race come nationals.