Hartwick's Kenny Kleso finished second in the 100 breaststroke and was part of the winning 800-freestyle relay.
Stevens Takes Lead into Fourth and Final Day at Empire 8 Championships
Empire 8 Day 3 Results
The Stevens Institute of Technology men’s swimming team is in first place heading into the fourth and final day of competition at the Empire 8 Championships in Ithaca, N.Y.
Stevens is currently in first with 662.5 points and Ithaca College checks in at No. 2 with 536 points. Hartwick College is third (474.5).
Senior John Hu opened the evening finals with a 1:50.95 in the 200-yard butterfly. His time was good for a win, a B-cut time and a championship-record. Hartwick senior Chris Wilcox came in second in the 200 fly with a NCAA “B” cut time of 1:52:.41 and sophomore MIles Blaney trailed him in third-place with an NCAA 'B" cut time of 1:53.58.
Stevens Greg Charriez tallied a B-cut time of 50.69 in winning the 100-back final. He was followed by teammate Shawn Hanak in second (50.72), and Ithaca junior Connor White in third (50.92). Ravi Sun of Stevens was fourth and Daniel Burke of Nazareth finished fifth, both picking up B-cuts.
Stevens junior Simas Jarasunas had the swim of the day, clocking the third fastest time in NCAA Division III this year in the 100-yard breaststroke. He re-broke his school-record and the championship-record with a 55.55 and also hit an NCAA A-cut which guarantees himself a trip to the national meet in late-March. Hartwick senior Kenny Kleso finished second and Stevens' Craig O’Dell finished third with a B-cut times of 57.00 and 57.43.
The 800 free relay squad from Hartwick College of Kleso, Blaney, Corey Perez, and Brad Ranson won their event with a NCAA 'B" cut time of 6:45.57. That time also set a new championship and Hartwick record. Ithaca finished second (6:49.21), Stevens took third (6:50.93) and Alfred was fourth (6:52.72) - all B-cut times.
Saturday's schedule of events will consist of:
100-yard Freestyle
200-yard Backstroke
200-yard Breaststroke
400-yard Freestyle Relay
1,650-yard Freestyle (Finals during morning session)
Men's 3-Meter Diving
The morning session will start at 10 a.m., while the finals will be held in the evening beginning at 6pm.
Men - Team Rankings - Through Day 3
Stevens - 662.5
Ithaca - 536
Hartwick - 474.5
Nazareth - 222
Alfred - 220
Utica - 152