By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern
Kenyon and Denison continued to pack swimmers into finals in the second prelims session of the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships. Two pool records and one meet record fell this morning.
Women’s Meet
The Kenyon women took the top 200 medley relay spot by a wide margin. Caitlin Foley, Katie Kaestner, Laura Duncan, and Hannah Orbach-Mandel swam a 1:45.73. Wittenberg’s Erin Swardenski, Madeline Kraft, Amy Schulz, and Dani Lacy followed (1:48.35). Elizabeth Kane, Ellen Higdon, Erin Hudson, and Ashley Yearwood swam a 1:48.69 to earn the third seed for Denison.
Marysol Arce of Kenyon set the Denison pool record in the 400 IM, posting a quick 4:23.76. Her teammate Mariah Williamson finished third (4:27.93). Fresh off her Conference Title in the 500 freestyle last night, Angela Newlon touched second (4:26.22).
While Carolyn Kane was first to the wall in the 100 butterfly in a B cut time of 56.18, Kenyon took the second through sixth seeds, in what should be a huge event for the Ladies tonight. Haley Townsend (57.26) touched just ahead of teammate Natalie Parker (57.46).
Campbell Costley of Denison earned the top seed in the 200 freestyle (1:51.14). Kenyon’s Orbach-Mandel touched second (1:51.87), just a hair ahead of teammate Abby Wilson (1:51.88). The top eight earned the B cut this morning. Denison and Kenyon each hold four lanes in tonight’s Championship Final.
Kenyon’s Julia Wilson finished the 100 breaststroke in a 1:02.08, under the pool and meet records (1:02.19 and 1:02.91). Her teammate Kaestner claimed the third seed (1:03.42). Denison’s Marissa Bednarek was second (1:03.42).
Kenyon got four swimmers into the Championship Final of the 100 backstroke, to Denison’s two. Big Red’s Yearwood finished first (56.94), while freshmen Ladies Abby Chopp and Wilson touched in 57.26 and 57.73.
The 800 freestyle relay will also be swum tonight.
Men’s Meet
In morning relay action the DePauw men’s 200 medley relay team of Blake Lehmann, Mitchell Davis, Brandon Sholtis, and Matt Oonk claimed the top spot with a time of 1:32.09. Kenyon’s Oscar Anderson, Danny Jurgens, Christian Josephson, and Austin Pu were second (1:32.15). While the DePauw B team finished third, it will be the Denison squad of Jason Wessleing, Jake Ball, Andrew Rich, and Brendan Howley with the third seed in finals this evening.
The top seven finishers in the 400 IM represented Denison and Kenyon. The Big Red’s Jack Lindell claimed the top seed for this evening’s finals (3:56.78). He was followed by two Lords, Matt Leenhouts (3:57.22) and Mark Newell (3:59.61).
Ryan Funk was first to the wall in the 100 butterfly this morning (48.41), not far from the pool record (48.62). DePauw’s Lehmann was second (48.86) and Denison’s Kenny Fox (48.87) was another hundredth behind.
Denison holds six of the top nine spots in the 200 freestyle relay. Teammates Ryan Fleming (1:38.56), Stuart Hohm (1:38.80) and Joe Brunk (1:38.97) will hold the middle lanes this evening.
Zechariah Banks of Wabash swam an impressive 55.00 100 breaststroke this morning. The senior is now less than half a second from the pool and meet records (54.66). Kenyon’s Danny Jurgens (56.80) earned second, while DePauw’s Sam McManus touched third (57.04).
In the 100 backstroke, Wessleing (50.00) claimed the top seed, ahead of Anderson (50.84) and Kenyon’s Matthew Cooper (50.85).
The men will also contest the 800 freestyle relay tonight, as a timed finals event.
Full Results Available Here: 2016 North Coast Athletic Conference-:Day 3 Prelims – Results
