By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern
Denison and Kenyon are keeping things close on both the men’s and women’s sides after the first finals swimming session at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships. Four pool and two meet records fell tonight. The Ladies currently lead the Big Red 622 to 583, while the Lords trail Denison 653.5 to 572.5.
Women’s Meet
Angela Newlon improved her own meet and pool records she set this morning, finishing in a final time of 4:48.61. Kenyon freshman Marysol Arce stopped the clock at 4:51.74, good for second. Campbell Costley finished third (4:52.01). The entire Championship Final finished under the NCAA B cut.
Denison won the 200 freestyle relay, swimming four new swimmers from the morning. Carolyn Kane, Ashley Yearwood, Kate Wright, and Mary Van Leuven posted a top time of 1:32.41. Kenyon’s Hannah Lobb, Abby Wilson, Laura Duncan, and Jenner McLeod combined for a 1:32.82. DePauw finished third. Caroline Bridges, Ellen Riehle, Kirsten Olson, and Mary Woods swam a 1:35.01. All three teams finished under the NCAA B cut.
While Denison lead the team scoring after the first relay, Kenyon was building a lead by the end of the 200 IM. The Ladies swept the podium in the event. Improving on her impressive morning swim, Julia Wilson won the event (2:03.08) just shy of the pool and meet records (2:03.06). Katie Kaestner finished second (2:05.37), while teammate Ellie Crawford was third (2:06.75).
For the second time today, a pool record was matched. Lobb stopped the clock at 23.30 to win the 50 freestyle. The senior’s time tied Kane’s pool record. Tonight, Kane touched third (23.61), matching her own prelims time. Van Leuven finished second (23.44). Denison’s sprinting depth, with seven swimmers in 27 of the finals spots, brought the Big Red closer to the Ladies, 481-429.
Kenyon’s Maria Zarka, the 2015 one meter NCAA Champion, posted a score of 480.85, a pool and NCAC meet record, to claim the one meter title tonight. Wittenberg’s Katie Black was second (412.90) while Denison’s Emma Webber was third (403.35).
The Denison women captured the final event of the night. Yearwood, Marissa Bednarek, Kane, and Van Leuven captured the 400 medley relay title with a 3:45.38. Caitlin Foley, Wilson, Wilson, and Lobb swam a 3:46.13 to earn second for Kenyon. DePauw was third as Annie Graves, Woods, Newlon, and Bridges posted a 3:51.37.
Men’s Meet
The Kenyon men were first to the wall in the 200 freestyle relay. Percy Gates, Ryan Funk, Joey Duronio, and Austin Pu finished in 1:20.61. Ryan Fleming, Conrad Wuorinen, Jason Wesseling, and Max Howes finished second for Denison (1:21.42). DePauw’s Brandon Sholtis, Sam Wagner, Sam McManus, and Blake Lehmann touched third (1:22.56).
The Big Red men came just short of sweeping the 500 freestyle. Teammates Stuart Hohm (4:29.24) and Ben Burdick (4:31.54) finished first and second. The Lords’ David Perez was third (4:32.02).
In a heat of only Kenyon and Denison swimmers, Denison again took the top two spots in the 200 IM. Jack Lindell (1:49.21) was just faster than teammate Joe Brunk‘s meet and pool records (1:49.35). Brunk finished as the runner-up (1:49.75). Kenyon’s Matt Leenhouts touched third (1:50.11).
Funk (20.29) sprinted under the pool record (20.36) in the 50 freestyle, to earn his second Conference Title of the evening. His teammate Duronio finished third (20.51). Lehmann touched second (20.45).
The Denison men came back to win the final relay of the night. Wesseling, Brendan Howley, Andrew Rich, and Fleming combined for a time of 3:17.56 to win the 400 medley relay. Kenyon’s Matthew Cooper, Danny Jurgens, Funk, and Duronio were a half second back (3:18.26) to finish second. Wooster rounded out the top three. Conner Gelwicks, Andy Pfeuffer, Zach Pool, and Garrett Layde swam a 3:27.52.
Team Scores through Event 12:
Women:
- Kenyon 622
- Denison 583
- DePauw 332
- Oberlin 281
- Wooster 279
- Wittenberg 197
- Allegheny 195
- Ohio Wesleyan 146
- Hiram 102
Men:
- Denison 635.5
- Kenyon 572.5
- DePauw 320
- Wabash 289
- Wooster 219
- Ohio Wesleyan 181
- Wittenberg 180
- Oberlin 175
- Allegheny 147
- Hiram 88
Full Results Available Here: 2016 North Coast Athletic Conference: Day 2 – Results
Aaron Saccurato, those muscles though!!!