UMass Men, Richmond Women On Way to Atlantic 10 Titles
Defending A-10 men’s and women’s champions Massachusetts and Richmond remain in the lead after day three at the 2016 Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Championships at the SPIRE Institute.
The Minutemen kept their lead following seniors Brian Stiles and Alessandro Bomprezzi’s performances in the 200-yard freestyle in which they took home the gold and silver medals. Stiles recorded an NCAA “B” qualifying time in the event with a time of 1:37.33. Also leading the way for UMass were the divers, who took first, third and fifth in the 3-meter event. Trent Kindvall grabbed gold with a score of 290.75, while Robert Barry took bronze with a score of 286.20.
St. Bonaventure is currently in second place on the men’s side with 344 points. St. Bonaventure senior Michael Pilyugin tied his own A-10 conference record in the 100-yard backstroke with an NCAA “B” time of 47.27. Senior Alex Marra won silver in the 3-meter dives with a 287.70.
Following Massachusetts and St. Bonaventure in the men’s standings after day three of competition are La Salle (302.5), George Mason (281), Saint Louis (278.5), George Washington (263), Davidson (242) and Fordham (85).
For George Washington, junior Andrea Bolognesi set two more A-10 records with NCAA “B” times of 52.44 in the 100-yard breaststroke and 47.18 in the 100-yard butterfly, bringing his total to three broken records for the championships. Fordham senior Steve Sholdra won the 400-yard IM (3:51.75) and La Salle’s 400-yard medley relay team of Fabian Bergman, Johan Roth, Cameron Fadley and Jakub Bartosiewicz took gold.
The Spiders continue to lead on the women’s side with 428 points. Sophomore Annie Lane, junior Maggie Pope and sophomore Erin Barry took home silver medals in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.00), 100-yard backstroke (55.61) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.42), respectively. Senior Kelley Yang joined Lane, Pope and Barry to finish second in the 400-yard medley relay (3:42.90).
Following Richmond in the women’s standings are Duquesne (322), Davidson (319), Massachusetts (266), Fordham (264), George Mason (222), George Washington (164), Rhode Island (151), La Salle (127), St. Bonaventure (114) and Saint Louis (112).
Davidson’s Elise Lankiewicz and Katy Williams recorded NCAA “B” times in the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.92) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.73). Lankiewicz’s time was an A-10 and pool record. Davidson also took home gold in the 400-yard medley relay (3:42.31). For Fordham, senior Shannon Lulley broke the pool and meet 100-yard butterfly record with an NCAA “B” time of 53.42. Freshman Olivia DiStefano took gold in the 100-yard backstroke for La Salle and Massachusetts’ junior Meriza Werenski won the 400-yard IM.
Action resumes tomorrow morning with the preliminary events beginning at 10:00 am and finals at 6:30.
Atlantic 10 contributed this report.