By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern
The Williams College Ephs are set to earn another NESCAC title tonight, but the battle for second continues between Amherst and Bates. Middlebury and Conn are also keeping things close in the fight for fourth.
Katherine Bennett started the morning with a new meet and pool record in the 200 backstroke, stopping the clock at 1:58.42. She will be chasing the 2008 NESCAC and NCAA record of 1:56.23 tonight. Williams teammate Katherine Priest finished second (2:01.05) while Bates’ Sarah Daher earned the third seed with a 2:02.01.
The Ephs grabbed another top seed as Emma Waddell was first to the wall in the 100 freestyle (51.32), just ahead of teammate Lauren Jones and Conn’s Sam Pierce who tied for second in 51.45. All three ladies hit the NCAA B cut.
Emily Hyde is clearly on fire this weekend. The Amherst senior set another meet and pool record and cleared the NCAA A cut by a full second, to stop the clock at 2:13.53 in the 200 breaststroke. The NESCAC and NCAA record of 2:12.83, set in 2006 could be in jeopardy tonight. Bowdoin’s Mariah Rawding dropped eight seconds to earn the second seed in 2:20.35, while Bates’ Melissa Paione grabbed third (2:21.60).
Bates senior Lindsey Prelgovisk earned top seed in the 200 butterfly with a 2:03.95 morning swim, ahead of Williams teammates Megan Pierce (2:04.50) and Sofie Pietrantonio (2:05.03).
The 400 freestyle relay is up tonight.
Timed finals of the 1650 will be swum this afternoon and tonight. Three meter diving will also take place this afternoon and into finals. The last session of the 2016 championships begin at 5:30 tonight.
Full results are available on Meet Mobile.
