Fiona Muir Set Up For Third Victory After 2019 NCAA Division III Championships Saturday Prelims

fiona-muir-emory
Photo Courtesy: Twitter, @DenisonSports

By Taylor Covington, Swimming World College Intern.

Denison will head into tonight’s final day of the 2019 NCAA Division III Swimming Championships with a healthy point advantage on the men’s side, while Emory maintains the lead for the women. Both teams are not out of striking distance, however, as the persistent dark horse, Kenyon, continues to climb in point standings night after night. With consistent finishes across the board and an uncanny ability to get their hands on the wall first, the Kenyon Lords and Ladies will pose a major threat heading into the last night of competition.

Emory will have to stave off a Kenyon upset by banking on sprinting stalwart Fiona Muir, who took the women’s 100 free preliminary with ease. If she and teammate Megan Taylor can post 1-2 finishes in tonight’s finale, they may be able to put Emory out of arm’s reach.

On the men’s side, Denison will have to find a way to the podium if they hope to hold off an aggressive Kenyon approach. Failing to place a lot of men in middle lanes tonight, the Big Red will have to see some breakout swims in the 200 back and 200 breast. With all the pressure on the top two teams, the Lords and Ladies may be poised for a scrappy win.

Tonight’s spread of events include Men and Women’s 100 free, 200 back, 200 breast, and 400 yard relay.

Women’s Live Stream

Men’s Live Stream

Live Results

Women 100 Free

Emory’s Fiona Muir came out of the gates swinging, posting a 50.14 to take the top seed in prelims. Narrowly outsplitting her closest competitor, Denison’s Madison Hopkins (50.33), on the first 50, Muir seized tonight’s middle lane by 0.19 on the first half alone, which will give Denison much to think about in terms of race strategy heading into the evening. Muir’s teammate Megan Taylor (50.54) claimed her spot on the other side of the sprinting stalwart, as the two hope to rake in points with a 1-2 finish tonight.

Kenyon’s Abigail Wilson stayed with the pack by dropping a 50.57, followed closely by BSC’s Rebecca Erwin (50.60). Wheaton forced their way into the A-final with an impressive swim from Brooke Barnes, who slashed her seed time to post a 50.73. Emory sophomore Lucena Daro (50.75) and Kenyon’s Hannah Orbach-Mandel (50.79) will round out the A-final in the outside lanes.

Event 32  Women 100 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
  NCAA Record: * 48.98  3/20/2010 Kendra Stern, Amherst
  2018 Winner:   49.29            Fiona Muir, Emory
 Meet Qualify:   51.37
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Muir, Fiona      SR Emory               49.50      50.14        
                 23.83        50.14 (26.31)
  2 Hopkins, Madiso  SO Denison             50.12      50.33        
                 24.02        50.33 (26.31)
  3 Taylor, Megan    SR Emory               50.56      50.54        
                 23.99        50.54 (26.55)
  4 Wilson, Abigail  SR Kenyon              50.43      50.57        
                 24.42        50.57 (26.15)
  5 Erwin, Rebecca   JR BSC                 50.76      50.60        
                 24.22        50.60 (26.38)
  6 Barnes, Brooke   SR Wheaton (IL)        51.14      50.73        
                 24.43        50.73 (26.30)
  7 Daro, Lucena     SO Emory               50.99      50.75        
                 24.49        50.75 (26.26)
  8 Orbach-Mandel,   SR Kenyon              51.01      50.79        
                 24.40        50.79 (26.39)

Men 100 Free

Tufts will dominate the middle of the pool on the men’s side, as Roger Ju sprinted to a 43.87 finish to position himself as top seed. Emory’s Trey Kolleck was close behind, dropping a 43.98 of his own to take his seat beside Ju. F & M sophomore Chris Sciavone managed to slip past UW Eau Claire’s Collin Miller (44.19) to cinch the third seed with a time of 44.16.

Coast Guard’s Jose Rodriguez (44.53) broke into the top five by 0.01, ahead of Emory’s Sage Ono (44.54), while Rowan’s Kevin Gillooly (44.56) and Dension’s Kymani Senior (44.56) will enter as tonight’s underdogs.

Event 33  Men 100 Yard Freestyle
==================================================================
  NCAA Record: * 42.98  3/24/2018 Oliver Smith, Emory
  2018 Winner:   43.32            Oliver Smith, Emory
 Meet Qualify:   44.86
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Gu, Roger        JR Tufts               43.78      43.87        
                 20.88        43.87 (22.99)
  2 Kolleck, Trey    SR Emory               43.81      43.98        
                 20.84        43.98 (23.14)
  3 Schiavone, Chri  SO F&M                 44.05      44.16        
                 21.03        44.16 (23.13)
  4 Miller, Collin   JR UW Eau Claire       43.95      44.19        
                 21.10        44.19 (23.09)
  5 Rodriguez, Jose  JR Coast Guard         45.57      44.53        
                 20.63        44.53 (23.90)
  6 Ono, Sage        JR Emory               44.99      44.54        
                 21.10        44.54 (23.44)
  7 Gillooly, Kevin  SO Rowan               45.05      44.56        
                 21.14        44.56 (23.42)
  7 Senior, Kymani   JR Denison             44.58      44.56        
                 21.02        44.56 (23.54)

Women 200 Back

Kenyon’s Crile Hart continues to pile on an already impressive individual schedule, taking first seed with ease with a time of 1:58.18. Hope’s Megan Peel (1:59.56) shaved over a second off her seed time to take a lane next to her, while freshman standout Jessil Eckland (2:00.38) from Vassar took third. MIT’s Laura Rosado (2:00.71)  brought it home in 1:01.94 to seize fourth seed, while Kenyon’s Delan Ambrosen (2:01.39) followed close behind. John Hopkins’ freshman Sydney Okubo (2:01.39) surged into the finish ahead of Chicago’s Gillia Gagnard (2:01.72) and Emory’s Gaige Elms (2:02.17).

Event 34  Women 200 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
  NCAA Record: * 1:55.67  3/24/2018 Crile Hart, Kenyon
  2018 Winner:   1:55.67            Crile Hart, Kenyon
 Meet Qualify:   2:02.99
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Hart, Crile      SO Kenyon            1:57.35    1:58.18        
                 27.87        57.44 (29.57)
        1:27.69 (30.25)     1:58.18 (30.49)
  2 Peel, Meghan     SO Hope              2:00.96    1:59.56        
                 28.03        58.12 (30.09)
        1:28.54 (30.42)     1:59.56 (31.02)
  3 Ecklund, Jessil  FR Vassar            2:00.82    2:00.38        
                 28.46        58.17 (29.71)
        1:29.01 (30.84)     2:00.38 (31.37)
  4 Rosado, Laura    FR MIT               2:00.42    2:00.71        
                 28.63        58.77 (30.14)
        1:29.75 (30.98)     2:00.71 (30.96)
  5 Ambrosen, Delan  SR Kenyon            2:01.16    2:01.24        
                 28.58        58.51 (29.93)
        1:29.62 (31.11)     2:01.24 (31.62)
  6 Okubo, Sydney    FR Johns Hopkins     1:59.92    2:01.39        
                 27.88        58.16 (30.28)
        1:29.69 (31.53)     2:01.39 (31.70)
  7 Gagnard, Gillia  SO Chicago           2:03.07    2:01.72        
                 28.43        58.86 (30.43)
        1:29.98 (31.12)     2:01.72 (31.74)
  8 Elms, Gaige      FR Emory             2:00.06    2:02.17        
                 27.91        58.25 (30.34)

Men 200 Back

Chicago’s Byrne Litschgi seized first seed by a wide margin on the men’s side, dropping a 1:45.07. Nearly a second faster than his closest competitor, WPI’s Jack Bauer (1:46.35), Litschgi’s seed going into tonight would’ve won the championship in 2018. Last year’s winner, Denison’s Robert Wang (1:46.37) will take third seed, as he sped in ahead of his freshman teammate Liam Picozzi (1:46.59).

Washington University’s Peyton Wilson posted an impressive time of his own, kicking home to post a 1:46.60 ahead of Amherst’s Craig Smith (1:46.80) John Hopkins’ Emile Koyl (1:46.82), and Kenyon’s Mi Batholomew (1:46.88).

Event 35  Men 200 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
  NCAA Record: * 1:43.49  3/21/2015 Harrison Curley, Kenyon
  2018 Winner:   1:45.37            Robert Wang, Denison
 Meet Qualify:   1:48.17
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Litschgi, Byrne  JR Chicago           1:45.07    1:45.07        
                 24.86        51.56 (26.70)
        1:18.15 (26.59)     1:45.07 (26.92)
  2 Bauer, Jack      SR WPI               1:45.17    1:46.35        
                 24.26        51.12 (26.86)
        1:18.62 (27.50)     1:46.35 (27.73)
  3 Wang, Robert     JR Denison           1:45.47    1:46.37        
                 25.08        51.76 (26.68)
        1:19.05 (27.29)     1:46.37 (27.32)
  4 Picozzi, Liam    FR Denison           1:49.45    1:46.59        
                 24.94        52.17 (27.23)
        1:19.37 (27.20)     1:46.59 (27.22)
  5 Wilson, Peyton   JR Wash U. MO        1:46.77    1:46.60        
                 24.42        51.11 (26.69)
        1:18.52 (27.41)     1:46.60 (28.08)
  6 Smith, Craig     JR Amherst           1:47.24    1:46.80        
                 24.58        51.17 (26.59)
        1:18.78 (27.61)     1:46.80 (28.02)
  7 Kuyl, Emile      SR Johns Hopkins     1:47.41    1:46.82        
                 24.14        50.94 (26.80)
        1:18.64 (27.70)     1:46.82 (28.18)
  8 Bartholomew, Mi  JR Kenyon            1:46.65    1:46.88        
                 25.22        52.00 (26.78)
        1:19.47 (27.47)     1:46.88 (27.41)

Women 200 Breast

Williams’ breaststroke star Caroline White (2:14.15) found a way to edge out St. Kate’s Jordyn Wentzel (2:14.24) at the finish to claim first seed. With a stellar first 100, White maintained speed to the finish to top all her competitors, including third seed Katherine Kustritz (2:14.97) who dominated the 100 breaststroke last night. Emory’s Ashley Daniels made her presence known with a 2:15.78, and her teammate Emily Hageboeck (2:16.90) claimed fifth in tonight’s standings, followed by Denison’s Katherine Mesaros (2:16.95), Amherst’s Nina Fitzgerald (2:17.96), and Pomona Pitzer’s Alexandra Werner (2:18.11).

Event 36  Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
==================================================================
  NCAA Record: * 2:12.20  2/20/2016 Sam Senczyszyn, UW Eau Claire
  Meet Record: ! 2:12.27  3/24/2018 KT Kustritz, Denison
  2018 Winner:   2:12.27            KT Kustritz, Denison
 Meet Qualify:   2:20.77
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 White, Caroline  JR Williams          2:14.72    2:14.15        
                 30.33      1:04.03 (33.70)
        1:38.74 (34.71)     2:14.15 (35.41)
  2 Wentzel, Jordyn  FR St. Kate's        2:12.85    2:14.24        
                 30.40      1:04.36 (33.96)
        1:39.20 (34.84)     2:14.24 (35.04)
  3 Kustritz, KT     JR Denison           2:13.72    2:14.97        
                 29.77      1:04.38 (34.61)
        1:39.41 (35.03)     2:14.97 (35.56)
  4 Daniels, Ashley  SR Emory             2:16.35    2:15.78        
                 30.34      1:04.19 (33.85)
        1:39.48 (35.29)     2:15.78 (36.30)
  5 Hageboeck, Emil  JR W&L               2:16.07    2:16.90        
                 31.26      1:05.74 (34.48)
        1:41.34 (35.60)     2:16.90 (35.56)
  6 Mesaros, Kather  JR Denison           2:17.36    2:16.95        
                 30.28      1:05.38 (35.10)
        1:41.47 (36.09)     2:16.95 (35.48)
  7 Fitzgerald, Nin  SO Amherst           2:17.44    2:17.96        
                 31.16      1:06.58 (35.42)
        1:41.68 (35.10)     2:17.96 (36.28)
  8 Werner, Alexand  FR Pomona-Pitzer     2:18.62    2:18.11        
                 31.22      1:05.93 (34.71)
        1:41.67 (35.74)     2:18.11 (36.44)

Men 200 Breast

Chicago came out on top with their breaststroke center of gravity, Lance Culjat, who posted a 1:58.45 to edge out Mary Washington’s Jeffrey Leckrone (1:58.97). In a tightly packed heat, Emory’s Jason Hamilton crashed in for the finish, only 0.02 ahead of Amherst’s Sean Mebust to take one of the middle lanes with a time of 1:59.09. Washington University’s Simon Deshusses (1:59.31) found a way to get his hand on the wall before USMMA’s Nolan Monahan (1:59.31) to break into the top five, ahead of Denison’s Richard Kurlich (1:59.66) and Gustavus’ Tanner Sonnek (1:59.85).

Event 37  Men 200 Yard Breaststroke
==================================================================
  NCAA Record: * 1:50.80  3/18/2017 Andrew Wilson, Emory
  2018 Winner:   1:58.57            Sam McManus, DePauw
 Meet Qualify:   2:00.93
    Name           Year School               Seed    Prelims              
==================================================================
                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 Culjat, Lance    JR Chicago           2:00.79    1:58.45        
                 26.11        55.87 (29.76)
        1:26.61 (30.74)     1:58.45 (31.84)
  2 Leckrone, Jeffr  SR Mary Washington   2:00.47    1:58.97        
                 26.75        57.02 (30.27)
        1:27.66 (30.64)     1:58.97 (31.31)
  3 Hamilton, Jason  FR Emory             1:59.59    1:59.09        
                 27.02        57.74 (30.72)
        1:28.24 (30.50)     1:59.09 (30.85)
  4 Mebust, Sean     JR Amherst           1:59.50    1:59.11        
                 27.01        56.97 (29.96)
        1:27.74 (30.77)     1:59.11 (31.37)
  5 Deshusses, Simo  JR Wash U. MO        2:02.35    1:59.31        
                 26.97        56.96 (29.99)
        1:27.23 (30.27)     1:59.31 (32.08)
  6 Monahan, Nolan   JR USMMA             2:00.89    1:59.62        
                 26.46        56.44 (29.98)
        1:27.80 (31.36)     1:59.62 (31.82)
  7 Kurlich, Richar  FR Denison           2:00.44    1:59.66        
                 27.31        57.78 (30.47)
        1:28.41 (30.63)     1:59.66 (31.25)
  8 Sonnek, Tanner   SR Gustavus          1:59.82    1:59.85        
                 26.51        56.73 (30.22)
        1:28.13 (31.40)     1:59.85 (31.72)

Women 400 Free Relay

In a cohesive effort by Denison’s Mia Chiappe, Casey Kirby, Gabriella Nutter, and Madison Hopkins, the Big Red took it all with a time of 3:23.54, taking down Kenyon’s top combo of Hannah Orbach-Mandel, Celina German, Abigail Wilson, and Crile Hart (3:23.86). Emory held on until the end to wedge themselves in the top three through efforts by Fiona Muir, Zoe Walker, Lucena Daro, and Megan Taylor (3:24.09).

Williams eclipsed the top-three by a narrow margin, finishing with a time of 3:25.21 ahead of Washington University (3:35.67), St. Kate’s (3:26.25), Conn College (3:26.26), and Bowdoin (3:26.51).

Event 39  Women 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
====================================================================
  NCAA Record: * 3:18.46  3/24/2018 Emory
                          Muir, Cheng, Ong, Taylor
  2018 Winner:   3:18.46            Emory
 Meet Qualify:   3:28.45
    School                           Seed    Prelims              
====================================================================
                       === Preliminaries ===                        
 
  1 Denison                       3:22.30    3:23.54        
     1) Chiappe, Mia SO               2) Kirby, Casey JR              
     3) Nutter, Gabriella JR          4) Hopkins, Madison SO          
                 24.91        51.92 (51.92)
        1:15.91 (23.99)     1:43.07 (51.15)
        2:07.06 (23.99)     2:33.86 (50.79)
        2:49.95 (16.09)     3:23.54 (49.68)
  2 Kenyon                        3:22.79    3:23.86        
     1) Orbach-Mandel, Hannah SR      2) German, Celina SO            
     3) Wilson, Abigail SR            4) Hart, Crile SO               
                 24.72        51.36 (51.36)
        1:15.64 (24.28)     1:43.32 (51.96)
        2:07.06 (23.74)     2:33.21 (49.89)
        2:57.35 (24.14)     3:23.86 (50.65)
  3 Emory                         3:22.90    3:24.09        
     1) Muir, Fiona SR                2) Walker, Zoe FR               
     3) Daro, Lucena SO               4) Taylor, Megan SR             
                 24.25        50.73 (50.73)
        1:15.10 (24.37)     1:42.30 (51.57)
        2:06.74 (24.44)     2:33.33 (51.03)
        2:57.77 (24.44)     3:24.09 (50.76)
  4 Williams                      3:25.97    3:25.21        
     1) Peterson, Anna FR             2) Craig, Molly SO              
     3) Panitz, Georgia FR            4) Westphal, Laura SO           
                 25.19        52.43 (52.43)
        1:16.89 (24.46)     1:43.57 (51.14)
        2:07.98 (24.41)     2:35.40 (51.83)
        2:59.12 (23.72)     3:25.21 (49.81)
  5 Wash U. MO                    3:26.48    3:25.67        
     1) Pollitt, Eleanor SO           2) Seidner, Mollie JR           
     3) Sapp, Lauren SR               4) Cowin, Catherine JR          
                 24.69        52.38 (52.38)
        1:16.13 (23.75)     1:42.75 (50.37)
        2:07.13 (24.38)     2:33.85 (51.10)
        2:58.62 (24.77)     3:25.67 (51.82)
  6 St. Kate's                    3:26.96    3:26.25        
     1) Wentzel, Jordyn FR            2) Klein, Macy FR               
     3) Menso, Margaret FR            4) Grohman, Sydney SO           
                 24.13        50.45 (50.45)
        1:15.11 (24.66)     1:42.12 (51.67)
        2:07.00 (24.88)     2:33.70 (51.58)
        2:58.34 (24.64)     3:26.25 (52.55)
  7 Conn College                  3:26.95    3:26.26        
     1) Ammon, Vaughn FR              2) Healy, Mackenzie SO          
     3) Ford, Madison SO              4) Haskell, Olivia SR           
                 25.00        51.77 (51.77)
        1:16.78 (25.01)     1:44.64 (52.87)
        2:09.33 (24.69)     2:35.86 (51.22)
        2:59.87 (24.01)     3:26.26 (50.40)
  8 Bowdoin                       3:28.45    3:26.51        
     1) Laurita, Mary SO              2) Lowery, Marshall JR          
     3) Dixon, Sterling SR            4) Banasiak, Amanda JR          
                 25.37        52.40 (52.40)
        1:16.87 (24.47)     1:43.91 (51.51)
        2:08.61 (24.70)     2:35.03 (51.12)
        2:59.89 (24.86)     3:26.51 (51.48)

Men 400 Free Relay

Emory demonstrated strength on the men’s side, putting together a lethal combo with Sage Ono, Colin Lafave, Alex Kohlman, and Trey Kolleck (2:58.72). They cruised to the finish with ease, finishing nearly a second ahead of Denison’s top crew of Kenny Fox, Eric Garlach, Matthew McHugh, and Drake Horton (2:59.60). In true form, Kenyon found its way into the top-three, boasting a time of 3:00.20 with top sprinters David Fitch, Aj Reid, Thomas Weiss, and Robert Williams.

Calvin (3:00.45) will round out the heat with a narrow edge over Tufts (3:00.54), Pomona-Pitzer (3:00.77), Johns Hopkins (3:00.88), and MIT (3:00.91), as the teams battle for the title and round out a climactic 2019 championship.

 Event 40  Men 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
====================================================================
  NCAA Record: * 2:53.59  3/24/2012 , Kenyon
                          Somers, Turk, Ramsey, Richardson
  2018 Winner:   2:56.72            Emory
 Meet Qualify:   3:01.77
    School                           Seed    Prelims              
====================================================================
                       === Preliminaries ===                        
 
  1 Emory                         2:57.66    2:58.72        
     1) Ono, Sage JR                  2) Lafave, Colin FR             
     3) Kohlman, Alex SR              4) Kolleck, Trey SR             
                 21.30        44.64 (44.64)
        1:05.71 (21.07)     1:29.73 (45.09)
        1:51.31 (21.58)     2:15.13 (45.40)
        2:35.53 (20.40)     2:58.72 (43.59)
  2 Denison                       2:57.52    2:59.60        
     1) Fox, Kenny SR                 2) Gerlach, Eric JR             
     3) McHugh, Matthew JR            4) Horton, Drake SO             
                 21.89        45.80 (45.80)
        1:07.11 (21.31)     1:30.41 (44.61)
        1:51.40 (20.99)     2:15.19 (44.78)
        2:36.49 (21.30)     2:59.60 (44.41)
  3 Kenyon                        2:58.71    3:00.20        
     1) Fitch, David SO               2) Reid, AJ SR                  
     3) Weiss, Thomas JR              4) Williams, Robert SR          
                 21.72        45.95 (45.95)
        1:06.86 (20.91)     1:30.85 (44.90)
        1:52.38 (21.53)     2:15.58 (44.73)
        2:36.97 (21.39)     3:00.20 (44.62)
  4 Calvin                        3:00.74    3:00.45        
     1) Iturbe, Julian SO             2) Britton, Jared SR            
     3) Fish, Skyler SR               4) Holstege, Benjamin SR        
                 21.96        45.36 (45.36)
        1:06.07 (20.71)     1:29.81 (44.45)
        1:51.70 (21.89)     2:15.52 (45.71)
        2:36.82 (21.30)     3:00.45 (44.93)
  5 Tufts                         3:01.07    3:00.54        
     1) Tatro, Tyler SO               2) Gu, Roger JR                 
     3) Vollbrechthausen, Victor FR   4) Bowen, Kingsley SR           
                 21.74        45.77 (45.77)
        1:05.68 (19.91)     1:28.84 (43.07)
        1:50.18 (21.34)     2:14.69 (45.85)
        2:36.13 (21.44)     3:00.54 (45.85)
  6 Pomona-Pitzer                 3:00.69    3:00.77        
     1) Menkhoff, Lukas SO            2) Abele, Will JR               
     3) Spindler, Archie FR           4) Drover, Ryan SR              
                 21.21        44.53 (44.53)
        1:05.76 (21.23)     1:29.34 (44.81)
        1:51.14 (21.80)     2:15.07 (45.73)
        2:36.35 (21.28)     3:00.77 (45.70)
  7 Johns Hopkins                 3:00.57    3:00.88        
     1) Corbitt, Noah FR              2) Hughes, Collin FR            
     3) Davenport, Nathaniel SO       4) Fabian, Brandon JR           
                 22.12        45.60 (45.60)
        1:07.24 (21.64)     1:31.18 (45.58)
        1:52.68 (21.50)     2:16.54 (45.36)
        2:37.46 (20.92)     3:00.88 (44.34)
  8 MIT                           3:00.76    3:00.91        
     1) Chen, Kyri FR                 2) Ubellacker, Samuel JR        
     3) Sison, Emilio JR              4) Liu, Justin SO               
                 21.70        45.46 (45.46)
        1:06.54 (21.08)     1:30.57 (45.11)
        1:51.66 (21.09)     2:16.06 (45.49)
        2:36.84 (20.78)     3:00.91 (44.85)
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