INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Members of the Hartwick men’s swimming team competed in three events on the first of four days of competition at the NCAA Division III Championships held at the Indiana University Natatorium on Wednesday.
Kenny Kleso (Milford, PA) and Miles Blaney (New York, NY) highlighted the day with both finishing in the top-16 in the country in the 500 free. Kleso earned a preliminary time of 4:31.99 and Blaney was just behind him in 4:32.19 as both earned entry in the event’s consolation final. Kleso ended up 14
th (4:34.55) and Blaney was 16
th (4:36.70) as both earned honorable mention All-Americans status.
Blaney’s time in the prelims beat his own personal best by nearly three seconds. It stands as the second-fastest time in Hartwick history, behind only Kleso’s record of 4:31.41, which he set at the UNYSCSA/Empire 8 Championships in February.
Kleso and Blaney join a list of only 18 other Hartwick athletes to earn either All-American or honorable mention All-American honors in program history. They are also the first to achieve the distinction since Dan Holmberg in the 2005-06 season.
Lydon Schultz (Mt. Pleasant, SC) was 36
th in the 50 free with a final time of 21.18.
The 200 medley relay team of Brad Ranson (Pennington, NJ), Michael Phillips (Austin, TX), Blaney, and Schultz came in 23
rd with a preliminary time of 1:34.95.
Events continue for the Hawk swimmers tomorrow with two relays and one individual event. Schultz, Ranson, Phillips, and Kaird Durocher (Bethlehem, PA) will compete in the 200 free relay. Ranson, Kleso, Blaney, and Durocher will take part in the 400 medley relay. Phillips, Blaney, and Kleso will each swim in the 200 free.