Washington and Lee Claim ODAC Crowns in Final Record Setting Night

Photo Courtesy: Brian Laubscher

By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern

The Washington and Lee College Generals put up dominant efforts to win the men’s and women’s ODAC titles. In the final night of competition, seven more meet and six more open records fell.

Women’s Meet

Randolph-Macon’s Kata Kylliainen won the 1650 by 20 seconds tonight. The freshman’s 17:33.66 broke the meet (17:46.18) and open (17:35.21) records set in 1999! Two Washington and Lee freshman completed the podium. Jordan Watson touched in 17:54.16 while Alison Murtagh swam an 18:02.99.

In the 200 backstroke Washington and Lee was back on top, taking the first four spots. Emily Rollo lowered her own meet and open records (2:02.35) with a winning 2:02.02. Kira Tomenchok finished in 2:06.77 while Stephanie Foster earned third in 2:07.90.

W&L freshman Elle Chancey had an impressive 1.3 second drop from the morning, to finish in an NCAA B cut time of 51.67 in the 100 freestyle. The time also lowered the 2004 ODAC meet record (52.65) by nearly a second. Emory and Henry’s Jessica Richardson was also just under the old mark in her second place 52.45. The morning’s top seed Elisabeth Holmes dropped another three tenths to round out the podium in a 52.65.

Michaela Nolte shaved another quarter second off her meet and open records, claiming the 200 breaststroke title in 2:20.07. Hollins’ Claire Webber was runner up with a 2:25.04. The Generals’ Jillian Leigh finished third (2:27.13).

The top five spots in the 200 butterfly went to the Generals. Cassidy Fuller was the champion in a 2:07.25. Haylee Rademann and Mara Tynan finished second (2:09.31) and third (2:10.66).

Holmes, Fuller, Sarah Schaffer, and Chancey combined for a 3:28.49, a second under the 2015 NCAA invited time and two seconds under the ODAC records, to win the 400 freestyle relay. Nolte, Mackenzie Lingle, Claire Goodrum, and Richardson put together a 3:33.73 for second. Randolph-Macon earned third (3:41.08) with the team of Sierra Collins, Rachel Leigh, Kylliainen, and Alexis Campbell.

Men’s Meet

The Generals swept the podium in the 1650. Austin Jennings had a commanding lead with a 16:39.75, ahead of Thomas Caldwell (16:55.24). Jacob Rosen finished third (17:18.14).

Randolph-Macon’s Ivan Fadeyev touched first in the 200 backstroke in a 1:53.45. W&L teammates Thomas Agostini and Patrick Lawrence were second (1:56.57) and third (1:58.48).

Tommy Thetford of W&L was stellar again tonight, shattering his own meet (45.90) and open (44.44) records with a 43.95 100 freestyle. That time would have been the NCAA runner up last year. Mohamed Saleh of Randolph-Macon was runner up in 46.89 while W&L’s Jake Burns (47.31) touched third.

Generals teammates Trent Babcock and Corey Connelly had a tight race in the 200 breaststroke. The ODAC title went to Babcock in a 2:08.13 while Connelly settled for second in 2:08.80. The Yellow Jackets’ Robert Redenz finished third in 2:09.33.

W&L teammates swept the podium in the 200 butterfly. Noah Schammel couldn’t quite match his morning speed, but still won the ODAC crown in a 1:53.12. Thomas Ferguson finished second in 1:54.26 while Alex Fox was third (1:57.60).

In the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, the General men also broke the ODAC records. Connelly, Andrew Botelho, Jake Burns, and Thetford swam a 3:03.82. Redenz, Fadeyev, Daniel Whitehead, and Saleh were back at 3:14.63 for second for the Yellow Jackets. Hampden-Sydney finished third in 3:45.15 with Calvin Charles, Adrian Cothren, Conor Roberson, and Tate Socha.

Final Scores (Through Event 36)

Men-

Washington and Lee 1036
Randolph-Macon 576
Hampden-Sydney 448
Ferrum 53

Women-

Washington and Lee 1030.5
Emory and Henry 668
Randolph-Macon 524.5
Bridgewater 294
Greensboro 181
Hollins 173
Sweet Briar 150
Notre Dame 114
Ferrum 101
Guilford 76

Full Results:

Women: 2016 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Women: Full Results – Results

Men: 2016 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Men: Full Results – Results

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Meredith

8 years ago

Cathleen,

Thank you so much for the great reporting of ODACs! Your Division 3 perspective has been wonderful all season and your love of the sport is evident. You rock!!!!

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Cathleen Pruden

8 years ago

Reply to Meredith

Thank you so much! I love getting to report the results of these swimmers’ hard work– I’m glad you enjoyed!

Bill Bell

8 years ago

Kata Kyllainen has an older sister who ain’t too shabby when it comes to swiming — Tanya.

She completed her eligibility @ Louisville last season and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Swimmer of the Year. She will likely represent her native Finland this summer at Rio.