2017 NCAA Division III National Championships: Megan Pierce Defends 400 IM Crown

Photo Courtesy: Sports Information/Williams College

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Women’s 400 IM

NCAA Record: 4:13.14 – Caroline Wilson, Williams (2012)
2016 Champion: 4:20.77 – Megan Pierce, Williams

Despite being behind by about a body length for the first 300 yards, a patient Megan Pierce of Williams blasted a 58.15 freestyle split to come back and win the 400 IM by two and half seconds. This was Pierce’s second national title in a row and her third overall in this event.

Emory’s Julia Durmer gave her a good run right through the breaststroke out-splitting Pierce on the fly and breaststroke legs. Pierce and Durmer distanced themselves from the field early on. After an impressive morning swim and gutsy finals performance, Durmer has now set herself up to be the new queen of this event as the current one has fought her last 400 IM battle on the NCAA stage.

Emory teammate Ming-fen Ong took fourth in 4:23.19 and Amherst’s Bridgitte Kwong took the third spot in 4:21.77.

Denison freshman Natalie Zaravella won the consolation final in 4:26.00. She was followed closely by NYU freshman Julien Zhu.

                       === Championship Final ===                        
 
  1 Pierce, Megan          SR Williams          4:18.21    4:15.71   20  
                 27.25        58.36 (31.11)
        1:31.25 (32.89)     2:03.49 (32.24)
        2:40.34 (36.85)     3:17.56 (37.22)
        3:47.05 (29.49)     4:15.71 (28.66)
  2 Durmer, Julia          SO Emory             4:16.37    4:18.13   17  
                 27.05        57.37 (30.32)
        1:30.76 (33.39)     2:02.92 (32.16)
        2:39.51 (36.59)     3:16.80 (37.29)
        3:47.37 (30.57)     4:18.13 (30.76)
  3 Kwong, Bridgitte       SO Amherst           4:21.80    4:21.77   16  
                 28.33      1:00.67 (32.34)
        1:33.64 (32.97)     2:05.54 (31.90)
        2:43.46 (37.92)     3:21.34 (37.88)
        3:52.46 (31.12)     4:21.77 (29.31)
  4 Ong, Ming-fen          JR Emory             4:24.10    4:23.19   15  
                 27.28        58.32 (31.04)
        1:32.92 (34.60)     2:07.74 (34.82)
        2:45.05 (37.31)     3:23.46 (38.41)
        3:54.13 (30.67)     4:23.19 (29.06)
  5 Nicklas-Morris, Emma   FR Carnegie Mellon   4:24.36    4:23.22   14  
                 27.93        59.13 (31.20)
        1:33.84 (34.71)     2:08.91 (35.07)
        2:46.77 (37.86)     3:24.87 (38.10)
        3:54.26 (29.39)     4:23.22 (28.96)
  6 Arce, Marysol          SO Kenyon            4:24.12    4:24.18   13  
                 28.23      1:00.20 (31.97)
        1:33.93 (33.73)     2:06.73 (32.80)
        2:46.24 (39.51)     3:25.36 (39.12)
        3:55.38 (30.02)     4:24.18 (28.80)
  7 Dixon, Sterling        SO Bowdoin           4:23.79    4:26.39   12  
                 28.14        59.97 (31.83)
        1:33.45 (33.48)     2:06.97 (33.52)
        2:45.78 (38.81)     3:25.13 (39.35)
        3:55.98 (30.85)     4:26.39 (30.41)
  8 Orwin, Colleen         SR Kalamazoo         4:24.58    4:33.95   11  
                 28.26      1:00.98 (32.72)
        1:37.31 (36.33)     2:12.31 (35.00)
        2:51.42 (39.11)     3:31.01 (39.59)
        4:02.64 (31.63)     4:33.95 (31.31)

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