Williams Takes Early Lead After Day 1 of Women’s NESCACS

New England Small College Athletic Conference –Women

• Dates: Friday, February 12 – Sunday, February 14; prelims 10 AM, finals 6 PM (5:30 on Sunday)
• Location: Middlebury Natatorium, Middlebury, VT (Eastern Time)
• Defending Champions: Williams (results)
• Live Results: Available
• Live Video: Available
• Championship Central

Day One of the 2016 Women’s NESCAC Championships is in the books and defending champion Williams is off to a strong start. The Ephs opened the meet with a pool record in the 200 free relay, with Maia Hare (23.90), Lauren Jones (23.95), Faye Sultan (23.78), and Breanna Nguyen (23.31) combining for 1:34.94. Connecticut knocked 2 seconds off their time from prelims to finish second ahead of Amherst, 1:35.63 to 1:35.70.

Bowdoin’s Mariah Rawding won the 50 breast in 29.32, while Williams’ Nguyen touched out Bates’ Kristy Prelgovisk by 1/100 for second, 29.83 to 29.84. Sarah Conklin of Amherst claimed the 50 fly crown with a close 24.71-to-24.88 win over Hare of Williams. Meg Griffin of Middlebury placed third in 25.44. In the 50 back, Williams’ Katherine Bennett was just off her pool record-setting time from prelims (25.67) but still earned the win by half a body length; she touched in 25.74 ahead of Whitney Paine of Bates (26.58) and Stephanie Moriarty of Amherst (26.78).

The 500 free went to Middlebury’s Isabel Wyer. Seeded with a 5:07.5, she went 4:55 in prelims and then 4:54.36 in finals to get the win. Williams’ Alison McNamara placed second in 4:57.10, just ahead of teammate Jones (4:57.55).

The expectations were high in the 200 IM after Williams’ Emma Waddell set the meet and the pool records in prelims with 2:02.02. But it was Emily Hyde of Amherst who had the crowd on its feet in finals with her stunning second half. Hyde came back from sixth at the 100 to win in a new meet and pool record time of 2:00.60. Waddell was second in 2:01.53, while Connecticut’s Sam Pierce took third with 2:03.47.

Williams freshman Hare made it to the top of the podium a second time with her 23.70 win in the 50 free. Logan McGill of Bates was runner-up in 23.80; Bowdoin’s Bridget Killian rounded out the top three with 23.94.

Ari Ross of Williams claimed the win in the 1-meter diving event, scoring 434.50 points. Bates’ Emma Jarczyk was a close second with 429.10, while Bowdoin’s Rebecca Stern took third with 408.00 points

Williams broke the meet and pool records in the final event of the evening: 400 medley relay. Olivia Jackson (55.20), Nguyen (1:04.43), Waddell (52.57), and Jones (51.43) combined for 3:43.63. Amherst came in second with 3:44.49. Bowdoin clocked a 3:48.92 for third.

Standings after Day One

1. Williams College 731
2. Amherst College 512
3. Bates College 492.5
4. Connecticut College 394
5. Bowdoin College 393.5
6. Middlebury 352.5
7. Tufts University 269.5
8. Wesleyan University 225
9. Hamilton College 193
10. Colby College 150
11. Trinity College 94