By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern
One pool record and one meet record fell and one pool record was tied in the first morning of action at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships.
Women’s Meet
In the first individual event of the morning, the 500 freestyle, DePauw’s Angela Newlon (4:49.38) broke Campbell Costley‘s meet and pool records (4:49.85). In the following heat, Costley posted a 4:52.34, good for second. Kenyon’s Marysol Arce earned the third seed (4:53.59).
The Ladies of Kenyon posted the quickest relay time this morning. Haley Townsend, Abby Wilson, Caitlin Foley, and Abby Chopp stopped the clock at 1:36.18. Wooster’s Emma Fikse, Alex Desotelle, Jamie Hibbs, and Jillian Saccogna dropped two seconds from their seed to take the second spot (1:37.74). Denison will have the third seed tonight. Marissa Bednarek, Marisa Pulaski, Erin Hudson, and Ellen Higdon posted a 1:38.45.
Kenyon’s Julia Wilson used an impressive breaststroke split (34.59) to propel her way to the top seed in the 200 IM (2:03.80), within striking distance of the NCAC record (2:03.06). The Big Red’s Bednarek (2:05.58) and Halli Garza (2:05.70) hold the second and third seeds.
Denison and Kenyon will fill eight of the nine lanes in tonight’s Championship Final. The Big Red’s Mary Van Leuven (23.47) and Ashley Yearwood (23.53) took the top two spots this morning. The Ladies’ Hannah Lobb is seeded third (23.59).
DePauw’s Annie Graves, Mary Woods, Newlon, and Caroline Bridges combined for a 3:52.39 to win the 400 medley relay this morning. Kenyon’s Delaney Ambrosen, Ellie Crawford, Natalie Parker, and Hannah Orbach-Madel finished second this morning (3:52.60). Denison earned the third seed as Elizabeth Kane, Pulaski, Garza, and Kate Wright swam a 3:56.76.
Men’s Meet
The Denison men dove to an early lead last night, and the momentum continued this morning. The Big Red took the top two spots in the 200 freestyle relay. Ryan Fleming, Max Howes, Kenny Fox, and Conrad Wuorinen swam to a top time of 1:21.54. Victor Lowe , Jason Wesseling, Alec Carlson, and Kevin Brinegar combined for a 1:22.73. The DePauw squad of Brandon Sholtis, Matt Oonk, Sam Wagner, and Blake Lehmann are seeded third (1:23.16).
The Big Red men continued to impress, taking the top four seeds in the 500 freestyle. Ben Burdick lead the way (4:30.26), followed closely by Stuart Hohm (4:30.96). Aaron Saccurato, another Denison sophomore finished in 4:33.08 to claim the third spot for this evening.
Kenyon took its first top seed of the day in the 200 IM. Matt Leenhouts (1:50.13), was followed closely by Denison’s Jack Lindell (1:50.95) and Joe Brunk (1:50.98), the defending NCAC Champion.
Kenyon senior Richard Funk tied the Denison pool record (20.36) to touch first in the 50 freestyle. Teammate Joey Duronio was only .02 behind (20.38). Denison’s Fleming (20.64) will be seeded third this evening.
In the 400 medley relay, Denison’s Jason Wessleing, Jack Ball, Fox, and Wuorinen combined for a top seed 3:24.68. Kenyon’s Matthew Cooper, Mark Newell, Jon Zimdars, and Brooks McCoy earned a second seed (3:26.17). The third seed went to DePauw. Eli Anderson, Sam McManus, Matthew Freudenthaler and Wagner posted a 3:29.09.
Full results available here: 2016 North Coast Athletic Conference: Day 2 Prelims – Results
