2016 WOMEN’S NORTHEAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, February 24- Saturday, February 27, 2016
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (Eastern Time Zone)
- Wednesday Timed Finals 8PM, Prelims 10AM / Finals 6PM (Thurs-Sat)
- Defending Champion: Central Connecticut (2015 results and recap here.)
- Live Results
- Championship Central
- NEC Teams: Bryant, Central Connecticut, Long Island University- Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U and Wagner College
Last year, Central Connecticut won their fourth NEC title in a row, holding back a very competitive team from Wagner by 24 points, scoring 837 to Wagner’s 813. This year Wagner enters the meet with the top seed in three relays and nine individual events, setting them up to be the team to beat in 2016. Wagner doesn’t lack depth either, but this is where CCSU might have the upper hand. Central Connecticut owns the top seed in two relays and four individual events, but also has some knock-out events like the 200 free where they have the three top times, and the 200 breast where they boast three of the top four.
Although day one only offers two events, it may be giving fans of this NCAA Division 1 Conference a peek at the battle to come. Wagner and Central Connecticut closed out day one in a tie, having each won and been runner-up in a relay, and each taking down an NEC Conference Meet Record to start the meet making it clear they are here to swim fast.
200 MEDLEY RELAY
- Wagner College 1:40.52 (*New NEC Meet Record.)
- Central Connecticut State 1:42.19
- LIU Brooklyn 1:42.45
Wagner got out in front and never looked back in the first event of the 2016 NEC, winning the sprint medley relay in 1:40.52. The team of Anu Nihipali, Katja Claesson, Michelle Detka and Dorian McMenemy finished well under the NEC Meet Record 1:41.99 set last year by CCSU. Central Connecticut turned in 1:42.19 for the runner-up finish, with the Blackbirds from LIU Brooklyn joining them on the podium with 1:42.45 for third. St. Francis (1:43.42,) Bryant (1:45.00,) Sacred Heart (1:49.97,) and St. Francis New York (1:53.29) rounded out the A-final in that order. Mount Saint Mary’s A relay was disqualified for an early take-off, leaving only seven teams scoring in the event.
800 FREE RELAY
- Central Connecticut State 7:24.89 (*New NEC Meet Record.)
- Wagner College 7:32.88
- Bryant University 7:35.79
Central Connecticut got out to a slight lead on a 1:52.89 split from Lauren Rasile, but then extended it quickly to leave the rest of the field to fight for second place after Christine Rasile blasted a 1:49.09 for the second leg. Teammates Lauren Czulewicz (1:51.11) and Aidan Devers (1:51.80) brought it home to finish in 7:24.89. That time crushed the meet record 7:25.75 set in 2012 by St. Francis University, and was nearly eight seconds ahead of any other team in the heat. Wagner was able to hold off Bryant to tie up the team score with 7:32.88 to Bryant’s 7:35.79. Saint Francis University (7:39.34,) LIU Brooklyn (7:40.77,) Sacred Heart (7:44.05,) Mount Saint Mary’s (7:50.93,) and St. Francis NY (8:05.90) took 4th through 8th respectively to complete the A-final.
Team scores after day one leave Wagner and Central Connecticut tied for first at 70 points. LIU Brooklyn, Saint Francis and Bryant each have 60 points. Sacred Heart is 6th with 52 points, Saint Francis NY has 46 for 7th and Mount Saint Mary’s has 24 points for 8th.
