Scorching Times From Coast to Coast Highlight Dual Meet Weekend

By Emily Sampl

BOULDER, Colorado, November 7. WITH only a couple of weeks left until most of the major collegiate invites kick off, swimmers across the country look to be nearing peak form. An abundance of sizzling times emerged from meets in Texas, Arizona, Indiana and more. Here are a few highlights from this weekend.

On Friday evening, Texas, Indiana and Michigan met in Bloomington in a battle of three of the top men’s teams in Division I. Texas, the defending NCAA champs, narrowly defeated Michigan, 160-140, and topped Indiana, 181-119. Indiana and Michigan finished in a deadlock at 150 points.

Several swimmers turned in times among the best in the country at the meet. Dan Madwed captured victories in both the 100 (47.98) and 200 fly (1:46.08) to lead Michigan. His 200 fly time is the fastest in the country by over a second, while his 100 time ranks second behind Wisconsin’s Daniel Lester (47.86).

Longhorns Jackson Wilcox and Nick D’Innocenzo also posted impressive swims in their respective individual events. Wilcox grabbed wins in the 1000 (9:06.58) and 500 (4:27.39) freestyles, while D’Innocenzo became the first swimmer to break the 2:00 barrier in the 200 breast this year with a winning effort of 1:59.98. Indiana’s Eric Ress cruised to a win in the 200 back in 1:46.33, the second fastest time in Division I.

Meanwhile, halfway across the country, the Michigan women’s team squared off against Florida and Stanford, the top two teams from last year’s NCAA Division I championship meet. This time around however, the order reversed, as Stanford came out ahead of Florida, 222-175, and Michigan, 258-143; Florida topped Michigan 286-124.

Stanford senior Kelsey Ditto raced to the top time in the country in the mile with a 16:22.45, while freshman phenom Andie Taylor provided a one-two punch for the Cardinal with her second-place effort of 16:30.58. Florida’s Elizabeth Beisel continued her strong start at the collegiate level with three dominating performances. Beisel established a new pool record in the 200 back, winning the event in 1:54.27, and then obliterated the field in the 400 IM (4:08.53) and 500 free (4:46.34). Teammate Sarah Bateman raced to another sub-23 second effort in the 50 free with a 22.74, just off her second-ranked time of 22.72.

In another heated battle in the annual State Farm Lone Star Showdown, the Texas women topped Texas A&M for the third year in a row, winning by a final score of 163-137 in College Station on Friday. Texas’s Karlee Bispo racked up three wins for the Longhorns, in the 200 free (1:47.57), 50 free (23.06) and 200 IM (2:00.54). Teammates Lily Moldenhauer (100 back, 54.05) and Laura Sogar (100 breast,
1:01.25 and 200 breast, 2:11.41) had exceptional meets for Texas as well. Texas A&M junior Rita Medrano just out-touched Leah Gingrich to win the 200 fly, 1:57.04 to 1:57.27, to lead the Aggies. Medrano also won the 100 fly in 54.79.

Arizona hosted Wisconsin on Friday night, with both the men’s and women’s teams coming out on top. Alyssa Anderson and Margo Geer each won three events for Arizona; Anderson in the 500 free (4:48.74), 1000 free (9:55.20) and 400 IM (4:21.13), and Geer in the 50 free (22.75), 100 free (49.30) and 200 free (1:49.21). All three of Geer’s swims were good enough for NCAA B cuts, and her time in the 100 free is the fastest in Division I this season. Matt Barber (500 free and 1000 free), Carl Mickelson (100 and 200 breast) and Cory Chitwood (200 back and 200 free) each garnered two wins apiece to pace the Wildcat men. Maggie Meyer (100 back, 54.36), Ashley Wanland (100 breast, 1:01.64 and 200 breast, 2:15.02) and Daniel Lester (100 fly, 49.04, 200 fly, 1:49.56, and 400 IM, 3:58.28) picked up wins for the Badgers.

The North Carolina Tar Heels continued to impress in their meet against Minnesota this weekend. Stephanie Peacock (200 free, 1:47.36), Carly Smith (100 back, 54.93), Tommy Wyher (100 back, 48.26) and Rebecca Kane (50 free, 22.74, and 100 free, 49.96) had outstanding swims, while Minnesota’s Jillian Tyler retained her status as the top 100 breaststroker among Division I women with a sizzling 1:00.38.

In an intriguing matchup of two perennial Division III powers and rivals, Denison hosted Kenyon in an exciting dual meet on Saturday. On the women’s side, Denison came out ahead, while Kenyon rolled to victory in the men’s meet. Denison’s Lindsay Zeberlein (100 back, 59.33), Alyssa Swanson (200 free, 1:53.26) and Ksenia Golovkina (100 breast, 1:05.09) posted quick times to pace the Big Red. Ian Stewart-Bates (200 free, 1:42.71, and 100 free, 46.24) and Collin Ohning (50 free, 21.27, and 100 breast, 59.47) each won two events for the Kenyon men.

Check out the College Channel for full coverage of this weekend.

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