By Delaney Lanker, Swimming World College Intern
The final day of the Metropolitan Conference Championships began this morning. The prelims of the men’s and women’s 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breastroke, 200 butterfly and 400 free relay were swam.
In the women’s 200 back, Karis Fuller of LIU Post came in with the fastest time of the morning with a 2:05.03. Bridgeport’s’ Claudia Esteban finished in a 2:05.96 for the second spot seed for tonights finals and LIU Post’s Seren Jones finished third in a 2:06.48.
Alexander Skoog from The College of NJ had the quickest men’s 200 back of the morning, touching in at a 1:50.14. On his toes was Bridgeport’s Will Du Plessis who finished with a 1:50.24 for second and Chris Kahl from the US Merchant Marine Academy went a 1:51.15 for third.
Bridgeport’s Yekaterina Gakhokidze went a 51.38 in the women’s 100 free for the top seed tonight at finals. LIU Post’s Meghan Braizer touched right behind with a 51.48 and Nina Stegu from Bridgeport came in third with a 52.04.
In the men’s 100 free, Jesse Novak form Rowan finished first this morning with a 44.74. The College of NJ took the four spots in finals with Joseph Dunn touching in at a 45.44 for second and Scott Vitabile finishing with a 45.80 for third this morning.
LIU Post’s Caitlin Johnstone went a 2:24.85 in the women’s 200 breast this morning for the top spot at finals. William Paterson’s Vera Blazevska finished second with a 2:25.35 and Mount Saint Mary’s Marissa Catania was third (2:28.34).
James Shangle from the College of NJ came in first this morning in the men’s 200 breast with a 2:00.44. US Merchant Marine Academy’s Stone Hewitt finished second going a 2:03.92 and Bridgeport’s Ivan Capan touched third in a 2:04.19.
Last night’s 100 butterfly winner, Joyce Kwok of LIU Post, also put up the top time in the women’s 200 butterfly this morning with a 2:02.26. The College of NJ’s Debbie Meskin was second (2:12.89) and Hunter’s Alexandra Rubiano third with a 2:13.01.
Rowan’s Nick Marks went a 1:51.02 for the fastest men’s 200 butterfly of the morning. Southern Connecticut’s Louis Geist (1:52.37) and Dylan Swanepoel (1:52.76) finished second and third.
Bridgeport came in first this morning in the women’s 400 free relay. The team of Gakhokidze (53.93), Jaimy Taskin (54.52), Sara Savovic (54.04) and Clara Mico Gonzalez (54.13) went a 3:36.62 for the top seed tonight. LIU Post touched second (3:37.39) with Eline Swensen (55.07), Kat Kazaba (55.12), Fuller (53.68) and Kwok (53.52). Ramapo came in third (3:40.15) with Meghan Trewhella (55.86), Brenda Arthur (55.35), Sarah Stacey (57.12) and Maggie Herbert (51.82).
In the men’s 400 free relay, Rowan finished first this morning (3:06.07) with Adam Sicinski (47.03), Anthony Czar (46.76), Paul Long (47.01) and Novak (45.27). Bridgeport was a close second touching in at a 3:06.51 with their team of Du Plessis (46.92), Nick Semenov (47.23), Juan Mafla (46.23) and Didac Matsuyama (46.13). The College of NJ was third (3:09.15) with Skoog (46.93), Anthony Gurrieri (46.64), Adam Coppola (48.48) and Philip Binaco (47.10).
