Five NESCAC Swimmers Claim Titles at Day Two of NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Five swimmers representing NESCAC institutions claimed individual titles on day two of the 2010 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. Amherst junior Kendra Stern won her third consecutive 200-yard freestyle crown, while Williams sophomore Logan Todhunter repeated in the 100-yard butterfly.
After setting the record in the 100-yard butterfly during last year's championship, Todhunter broke her own record during the morning prelims with a time of 52.94 before winning the event in the evening finals in 53.56
Stern's third 200-yard freestyle crown broke the record she set as a first year, as she touched the wall with a time of 1:45.31, more than three seconds faster than the runner-up.
Other individual winners on Thursday included Amherst junior Alex Fraser. Fraser claimed the men's 200-yard freestyle title in 1:38.34, his second title of this weekend's championship (500-yard freestyle). Williams junior Gary Roberson placed third in the event with a time of 1:39.16.
In the men's 100-yard butterfly, Middlebury junior John Dillon came away with a win as he finished the race in 47.58. Connecticut College senior Pat Troy was sixth (49.61).
The Ephs' Caroline Wilson took the 400-yard IM with an impressive showing of 4:17.85. The first year was joined by sophomore teammate Bonnie Patchen in fifth with a time of 4:25.46. Amherst sophomore Ryan Lichtenfels finished among the top three in the 400-yard IM (3:55.49).
In the relay events, the Middlebury men were third (1:22.01) and the Williams team came in fifth (1:22.42) in the 200-yard freestyle relay. On the women's side, the Ephs were the lone NESCAC representative in the top eight, placing sixth with a time of 1:35.06.
The Amherst men were sixth in the 400-yard medley relay with a 3:21.69 showing, while the Jeffs' women's squad claimed eighth in the same event with a time of 3:54.88. The Williams women finished just ahead of Amherst, taking fourth in 3:48.25.
Tufts senior Lindsay Gardel recorded a fourth-place finish in the women's 1-meter diving competition, scoring an even 406.00.
Kenyon holds a big lead after day two in the men's championship with a score of 366 as compared to second place Emory with 140.5 points. Three NESCAC teams are in the top 10 at the moment, with Amherst leading the pack in seventh (115) followed by Middlebury in eighth (93) and Williams in ninth (83). Tufts has 12th place with 49 points. Connecticut College rounds out the conference contingent in 27th with 13 points.
In the women's overall title race, Emory holds the top spot with 297 points, followed by Dennison in second with 251 and Williams in third with 206. Amherst is currently in sixth place with 83 points. Other NESCAC teams at the meet include Middlebury (T-22nd), Tufts (T-27th), and Hamilton (T-42nd).
Action at the 2010 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships resumes on Friday.
