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By Jaclyn Luscomb
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, March 21. IT was quite an eventful evening in Indianapolis as the famous IU Natatorium on the campus of IUPUI opened its doors to host NCAA Division III Women's and Men's Swimming and Diving Championships.
Denison sophomore Allen Weik started the night off with a bang by breaking the NCAA DIII record in the men's 500 free with a 4:21.79. That swim bettered the 4:21.95 set by Amherst's Alex Fraser back in 2009. Amherst's James Lichtenfels took second in 4:27.43, while Kenyon's Andrew Chevalier finished third in 4:28.84.
Williams junior Caroline Wilson topped the women's 500 free in 4:45.45, dropping five seconds from her preliminary time in the victory. Teammate Sarah Thompson took second in 4:50.60, while Denison's Hilary Callen placed third in 4:52.17.
Redlands super frosh Jeffrey Depew surprised as a rookie NCAA titlist with a 1:47.60 in the men's 200 IM. His brother Christopher, who also swims for Redlands as a junior, took 11th with a 1:50.75 in the consolation heat. Williams' Paul Dyrkacz took second in 1:48.43, while Staten Island's Danila Novikov placed third in 1:49.55.
Williams' Logan Todhunter just missed the NCAA DIII record in the women's 200 IM with a winning 2:00.58. That performance came up short of Kaitlyn Orstein's 2:00.27 set for Washington & Jefferson in 2008. Emory's Sadie Nennig (2:02.78) and Denison's Emily Schroeder (2:03.67) rounded out the top three.
Kenyon's Zachary Turk lowered his NCAA DIII record in the men's 50 free with a 19.38 during prelims. That effort crushed his 2010 standard of 19.75 set for Kenyon. He returned in the finale to win the sprint free with a 19.52. Teammate David Somers placed second in 19.79, while MIT's Wyatt Ubellacker took third in 20.15.
Springfield sophomore Kellie Pennington snared the women's 50 free title in 23.00. Rowan's Christie Raleigh took second in 23.09, while top seed Claire Pavlak of Emory wound up third in 23.10 after posting a 22.86 in the morning.
UW Oshkosh's Phil Devine edged Calvin's Andy Krafft, 542.65 to 541.55, for the men's three-meter diving crown. Denison's Gabe Dixson placed third with 527.65 points.
Kenyon won the men's 200 medley relay as James Chapman, Lars Matkin, David Somers and Zachary Turk posted a 1:28.66, with Turk throwing down an amazing anchor leg of 18.91. Emory (1:29.87) and Denison (1:30.35) finished second and third. Emory's Sadie Nennig, Jennifer Aronoff, Leslie Hackler and Claire Pavlak topped the women's 200 medley relay in 1:42.27. Williams (1:42.48) and Kenyon (1:42.51) picked up second and third.
The team standings through Wednesday night are as follows:
Emory is leading the women with 258 points and Kenyon College is close behind at 204 points. Denison is in third on the women's side with 200 points. On the men's side, Emory is leading with 218 points, while Kenyon trails with 172. Denison is a close third, right behind Kenyon with 170 points.
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