By Brian Savard
OXFORD, Ohio, March 20. KENYON put itself in position to claim its 29th consecutive title after a strong preliminary showing on Day One of the Men's Division III Swimming and Diving Championships.
Kenyon has the top qualifying 200 freestyle relay and is sending 11 individual event qualifiers back tonight as well as the third-best 400 medley relay that will be swimming in the championship final event.
Denison, which is looking to dethrone the perennial titan, had the third-fastest 200 freestyle relay and the fifth-fastest 400 medley relay in the preliminary heats. Denison has three men who will return tonight for finals.
David Curtis is just less than four seconds away from Kenyon's Elliot Rushton's 2005 NCAA Division III record in the 500 freestyle (4:22.95), as the Denison junior clocked a 4:26.52 this morning.
Alex Sweet from Washington & Lee will be among the challengers to take Aaron Cole of Denison's 1999 50 freestyle record (19.90). Sweet cracked the coveted 20-second barrier with a 19.99 swim this morning.