5 Races to Watch at MAC Championships

By Allison Peters, Swimming World Intern

The Middle Atlantic Conference 2015 Championship may only include a select few division III swim teams, but it doesn’t mean the swimming will be any less exciting than those of the Big 10. Here are five races all swim fans should definitely watch out for this week at MAC Championships:

Women 100 Freestyle

Albright’s Codi Herr and Messiah’s Tara Freeman will go head to head once again in the 100 freestyle. This season Freeman heads into the meet with the number one seed, only .37 ahead of Herr. At the 2014 championships, Herr walked away with the gold after she touched in at 52.40 and Freeman took the bronze in 53.22. Between the two was then senior Tara Nuzzo of Arcadia (52.70).

Men 50 Freestyle

Ian Gaynor of Widener is going in as a crowd favorite in this event. Gaynor has been the only person this season to break 21 in the event, going 20.37 to break Widener’s school record and the conference record. In 2014, Gaynor went in as the top seed, won prelims, but was out-touched by Albright’s Ralph Porrazzo in finals. Gaynor’s 20.37 is over a second faster than seed number two, 21.58, which was posted by Hood’s Alex Bodine.

Men 100 Breaststroke

Misericordia’s Thomas Scott is seated first in this event with a 59.78. Though, Scott does not go into the meet with an undefeated season. Scott lost against Albright’s Ken Richardson during their dual meet back in January. Richardson is seeded second with a 1:00.26. This race will not only be close between these two competitors, but the top 5 seatings overall as first and fifth are only a 1.21 seconds apart.

Men 200 Backstroke

This event will be a fight to the finish most likely between the top three seeds. Leading the heat sheets is Misericordia’s Joe Grzech in 1:56.94, with Arcadia’s Eric Lam seated second at 1:57.79, and Hood’s Chris Gardner third at 1:57.85.

Women 400 Medley Relay

Most of the women’s relays are seated very closely together this season according to the heat sheets. This relay in particular has the top three seeds seeded not even a full second apart with Widener in first (4:09.54), Misericordia in second (4:10.20), and Messiah in third (4:10.24).

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