2017 NCAA Division III Championships: Emory’s Oliver Smith Defends 50 Free Title

Photo Courtesy: Hayley Good

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Men’s 50 Free

NCAA Record: 19.38 – Zach Turk, Kenyon (2012)
2016 Champion: 19.55 – Oliver Smith, Emory

It is not everyday that the top three seeds take the top three spots in the same order as predicted – especially in the 50 free. But the trio of Emory’s Oliver Smith (19.55), Rowan’s Jesse Novak (19.85) and Keene State’s Ryan Boraski (20.01) did just that.

Smith led the way in the exact same time he won this event in last year; he led the way from start to finish despite a great effort from Novak. With a great turn and breakout off the wall, Novak improved on his third place finish from last year as did Boraski who ended up twenty-third in 2016. Boraski narrowly edged out the rest of the field as Ian Gaynor was close behind in 20.08.

Junior Isaac Casey of Loras swam a fast 20.10 to win the consolation final, and will certainly be the swimmer to watch next season behind Smith. Similar to the 200 IM, the men’s 50 is very senior-heavy this year, as second through fifth place will all be graduating in May.

Emory had three swimmers in this event to Kenyon’s zero. After a first, seventh and sixteenth finish, the Eagle have taken over the lead in the team scores by ten points. As the NCAA Division III record holders in the upcoming 200 medley relay and no men’s diving tonight, you expect Emory to hold onto this lead through tomorrow.

                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 Smith, Oliver          JR Emory               19.85      19.55   20  
  2 Novak, Jesse           SR Rowan               19.88      19.85   17  
  3 Boraski, Ryan          SR Keene St.           20.17      20.01   16  
  4 Gaynor, Ian            SR Widener             20.31      20.08   15  
  5 Garin, Ivan            SR UC Santa Cruz       20.09      20.15   14  
  6 Englehardt, Jack       JR UW-Stevens Point    20.10      20.17   13  
  7 Kolleck, Mathias       SO Emory               20.19      20.26   12  
  8 Tomazin, Joshua        JR MIT                 20.20      20.60   11

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