2017 NCAA Division III National Championships: Andrew Wilson Takes D-3 Record, NCAA Overall Top Time in 100 Breast

Photo Courtesy: Emory Athletics

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At the halfway point, Emory leads the way for the women’s meet with 330 points. Highlighted by two NCAA relay records and a one-two finish in the 200 freestyle last night, it does not look like the Eagles plan on slowing down anytime soon.

But the main storyline to watch so far is the Williams Ephs who currently sit in second place. Last year they took third overall with 386 points. Two days in this time around they already have secured 225 points good enough for second place. They are seventeen points ahead of third-place Kenyon. While Emma Waddell has already swam (and won) two events, 400 IM Champion Megan Pierce still has two individual events left as well as freshman breaststroker Caroline White. This would be the team’s fifth second-place title and first since 2012.

While Emory will walk away with this one, the men’s race is not so clear. Emory currently leads with 244 points followed by Kenyon (214.5) and Denison (193). Emory has only four individual races this morning compared to Kenyon’s six. They will be fine in the sprint back and breast but will certainly lose some ground in the 200 fly. Today, as always, morning swims matter.

You can find our individual pre-meet predictions for the women’s meet here and the men’s predictions are available as well. Stay updated throughout the meet via our 2016-17 Division III Landing Page and live results.

Men’s 100 Breast

NCAA Record: 51.14 – Andrew Wilson, Emory (2016)
2016 Top 8: 55.49
2016 Top 16: 56.06

Emory senior Andrew Wilson not only raced to a new Division-III NCAA record in the 100 breast this morning, he also achieved the fastest time out of any of the three divisions so far this year. While men’s D-1 NCAAs are still a week away, Wilson’s 51.02 was enough to top the rankings at this time, and this was only prelims.

Tonight could be the night we see Wilson drop below 51 seconds; he split 24.26-26.76 this morning. He came home 27.10 in last night’s 400 medley relay and was out 23.17. Obviously, he will not be out this fast without a relay start, but he should be a little more aggressive up front tonight.

The last time any NCAA swimmer dipped below the 51-second mark was when Kevin Cordes (50.25 – Arizona) and Chuck Katis (50.89 – Cal) did so at the 2015 NCAA Division I National Championships.

All Andrew Wilson talk aside, a handful of other swimmers had impressive prelim swims as well. NYU’s Timothy Kou raced to a best of 54.36 and Hopkins’ Evan Holder swam a 54.44 for third. Holder went 53.05 in last night’s 400 medley relay so expect him to earn second place honors tonight.

Washington University’s Michael Lagieski (54.64) and Coast Guard’s Chasse Sodemann (54.67) also swam under 55; Lagieski swam a 53.34 in last night’s relay so he could be in the mix as well.

                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Wilson, Andrew         SR Emory               51.14      51.02  
                 24.26        51.02 (26.76)
  2 Kou, Timothy           JR NYU                 54.88      54.36  
                 25.76        54.36 (28.60)
  3 Holder, Evan           SR Johns Hopkins       54.82      54.44  
                 25.42        54.44 (29.02)
  4 Lagieski, Michael      SR Wash U. MO          54.27      54.64  
                 25.67        54.64 (28.97)
  5 Sodemann, Chasse       SO Coast Guard         54.77      54.67  
                 25.56        54.67 (29.11)
  6 Yamaguchi, Reona       FR Chicago             54.22      55.11  
                 25.95        55.11 (29.16)
  7 Sonnek, Tanner         SO Gustavus            55.10      55.24  
                 26.00        55.24 (29.24)
  8 McManus, Samuel        JR DePauw              55.15      55.25  
                 26.10        55.25 (29.15)

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