Ithaca Wins Women's Swimming & Diving Championship
Day 4 Results
The Ithaca College women’s swimming team won the Empire 8 title Saturday night in Ithaca, N.Y. The Ducks finished the four-day event with a team score of 874 points, more than 100 points better than second place Stevens Institute of Technology (756).
After the Ducks and Bombers was Hartwick College in third with 544 points and Nazareth College in fourth with a team total of 537.
For the third straight year a freshman won the 1,650 yard freestyle with the 2014 top honor going to Nazareth’s Cameron Hess. Hess clocked a B-cut time of 17:22.65, the second fastest time in E8 championship history. Defending champion Elizabeth Heinbach placed second (17:36.22, B-cut) and Stevens freshman Danielle Caruso took home third-place (17:46.41).
Stevens junior April Lawson became the third Duck swimmer in the last four years to win the 100-freestyle as she clocked a time of 52.38. Ithaca freshman Lake Duffy, who won the 50-freestyle three days prior, earned runner-up honors in a time of 52.68 and Nazareth senior Emily Sauter was third (52.69).
Ithaca dominated in the 200-yard backstroke where the Bombers finished 1-2-3. Freshman Grace Ayer won with a time of 2:03.49 and edged teammate Kylie Bangs who clocked a 2:03.87. Junior Megan Buisman was a narrow .12 seconds behind to complete the top three in 2:03.99. All three times met the NCAA B qualifying standard.
Junior Brittany Geyer continued to excel for Stevens as she won another E8 title. After winning the 100-breaststroke title on Friday, Geyer was back in the water Saturday to post the top time in the 200-breaststroke (2:19.72) - notching an NCAA B-cut time. Hartwick senior Clare Nelson also punched a B-cut ticket time of 2:22.14 placing second in the event.
Ithaca College divers Nickie Griesemer, Emily Warfle and Heather Markus earned the top three spots in the 3-meter. Griesemer totaled a championship-meet record with a score of 541. Warfle totaled 508, while Markus scored a 493.75.
In the final event, the team of Lawson, Nicole Miller, Jenn Rutledge and Caruso carded a 3:30.42 to win the 400-yard freestyle relay and pocket a NCAA B-cut. Ithaca clocked a B-cut time of 3:31.37 to place second and Nazareth finished third (3:35.67).
Final Team Standings
Ithaca - 874
Stevens - 756
Hartwick - 544
Nazareth - 537
Alfred - 308
Utica - 144