Ithaca Maintains Slim Lead at E8 Championships
Day 3 Results
Day 3 Standings
WEBSTER, N.Y. – Ithaca, which only led by 10 points after day two, extended its margin to 47 points over Stevens entering the final day of competition at the Empire 8 Conference Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships in Webster, NY Friday night. The Bombers have 676 points with the Ducks trailing with 629.
Stevens grabbed the top three spots in the 200 Butterfly finals to start the evening session. Senior Maria McClure won for the third consecutive season beating the 2014 NCAA Invitational time with a 2:04.69. Sarah Jurczyk (2:08.61) was second and Elizabeth Heinbach (2:11.06) was third for the Ducks.
A pair of Ithaca seniors battled for the title in the 100 Backstroke. Kylie Bangs, the 2013 runner-up in the event, claimed the championship with a B time of 57.00. Classmate Megan Buisman also earned a B time in 57.55. Alfred’s Chrissy Behn earned top-3 finish with a time of 58.99.
Defending champion Brittany Geyer was on the top of the podium again this season with a 1:04.05 performance. She beat out teammate April Lawson, who placed second, by nearly three seconds (1:07.04). Nazareth junior Kimberly Pedrotti was not far behind in third at 1:08.41.
The 1-meter diving competition was won by Ithaca sophomore Nickie Griesemer, who placed second last year. She completes the sweep after taking the 3-meter event on Wednesday. Tonight, she scored a 472.20. Teammate Anna Belson (454.25) was runner-up in the E8.
Wrapping up the night was the Hartwick College 800 Free Relay team, which blazed to an NCAA B cut and College record time of 7:38.74, to take the title. Imma Rutigliano, Kaitlyn Campbell, Gwen Mathias, and Rachel Bellis beat up Stevens by almost four seconds (7:42.52). Ithaca was third (7:47.17).
The final day of competition begins tomorrow with prelims at 10 a.m. The finals start at 6 p.m.
Day Three Standings:
Ithaca – 676
Stevens – 629
Hartwick – 368
Nazareth – 333
Alfred – 232
Utica – 109
Saturday’s Schedule:
1650 Freestyle
100 Freestyle
200 Backstroke
200 Breaststroke
400 Free Relay