Division III Recap: Williams Women Win NESCAC Title; Tufts Shines in Second

nescac-caroline-murphy-podium

Moving the 800 free relay to Thursday night got things off to a blazing start at this weekend’s Women’s NESCAC Championship at Wesleyan University.

Seven A relay teams were faster than last year’s third place time and most B relays were remarkably faster as well. Williams College won the relay in a new meet record time of 7:21.97 with the team of Casey DelanoAlison McNamaraAbby Matheny, and Laura Westphal. Westphal anchored the group in 1:47.16.

That set the winning trend for the Ephs, who ultimately won the Conference title with 1,873 points. Other top swims for Williams included junior Caroline White sweeping the breaststroke titles (29.34, 1:02.66, 2:14.72).

Senior Maia Hare won the 50 fly in a pool record time of 24.57. She was also second in the 100 fly in 54.92. Bowdoin’s Mary Laurita was third in that 100 fly in 55.18, the fifth best time in the country this year.

Swimmer of the Meet Westphal won the 500 free (4:53.95) ahead of teammates McNamara (4:56.89), and Matheny (4:37.72). McNamara won the 1000 in 10:11.11. Westphal ran away with the 200 free as well in 1:48.54. In the mile she was first to the wall in 16:50.89, ahead of McNamara in 17:02.33. There were a noteworthy 11 B cut times swum in the 1650.

Their teammate Molly Craig topped the 400 IM in 4:20.76 while Gwenyth Maloy was first to the wall in 2:01.91 in the 200 backstroke.

Tufts University put together some of the most remarkable top to bottom performances of the weekend, moving up to second place (from fourth last year) with 1,439.5 points. Sophomore transfer Amy Socha was huge for the Jumbos, setting a school record on the B 800 freestyle relay with a 1:52.63 lead off. Socha was also fourth in the 500 free (4:58.64) and 100 fly (56.09), and won the 200 fly in 2:01.83.

Jumbo breaststroker Lily Kurtz was fifth in the 50 (29.91), and third in the 100 (1:04.56) and 200 (2:20.57).

Amherst College was third (1,322 points) and Bates College scored 1,021 points for fourth place. Amherst’s Nina Fitzgerald built on her breakout first year and was runner up in all three breaststrokes in times of 29.45, 1:03.58, and 2:17.44.

The Mammoths’ Lindsey Ruderman won both boards and was named Diver of the Year.

Wesleyan junior Caroline Murphy won the 50 backstroke for the third straight year, this time with a meet and NESCAC record mark of 25.37. She also won the 100 back in 54.99.

Bowdoin senior Sterling Dixon won the 200 IM in 2:02.65, just .04 ahead of Williams’ Craig in 2:02.69. She was also runner up in the 200 free (1:50.55) and 200 fly (2:02.07).

Middlebury’s Frances Vandermeer won the 50 freestyle in 23.55, just ahead of Connecticut senior Olivia Haskell in 23.59. Haskell won the 100 free with a 51.15 after posting a 50.66 in prelims.

Bates’ Caroline Apathy clocked a 54.54 to win the 100 fly by nearly half a second and post the fastest time in the country so far this year.

Full results here.

Team Scores:

1. Williams College 1873

2. Tufts University 1439.5

3. Amherst College 1322

4. Bates College 1021

5. Connecticut College 932.5

6. Wesleyan University 899

7. Bowdoin College 836

8. Middlebury College 730

9. Colby College 445.5

10. Trinity College 408.5

11. Hamilton College 397

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