Nazareth Leads After Day One of Men's Swimming and Diving Championship
Day 1 Results |
Team Scores
The first day of the Empire 8 Conference Championship being held at the Webster Aquatic Center in Webster, NY is in the books.
Nazareth College stands in first place in the team standings with 250.50 points. Stevens Institute of Technology is second with 184.50, followed by Alfred University (172), Hartwick College (148) and Utica College (63).
Stevens junior Sam Fuller got the men's finals started with a 4:38.22 to claim the conference title in the 500 freestyle for the second season. Hartwick sophomore Ryan McLoughlin took second with a 4:41.19 and Nazareth' junior Bob Draper completed the top three (4:42.76).
In the 200 Individual Medley, the top three finishers were seperated by less than a second. Hartwick's Aron Zhang earned the win with a time of 1:53.46 as he out-touched the defending champion Alex Lapoint of Nazareth (1:53.57). It is only the second time a Hartwick swimmer has won the event in Empire 8 history. Freshman John Koch was close behind at 1:54.31.
Nazareth freshman Seth Farrand was the only swimmer to crack 21 seconds as he swam a school record NCAA B-cut qualifying time of 20.40. Farrand's win marks the first time a Nazareth swimmer has won the 50 free event. Hartwick senior David Mauro secured the second spot in 21.27, edging out Nazareth's Gannon Connors and Stevens' Trevor Hinds who tied for third in 21.37.
For the first time since 2010, an Alfred diver claimed the 3-meter diving event. Alfred junior Chris Deaver turned in the top score of 484.40, narrowly defeating runner-up Sidney Taylor of Nazareth who scored a 473.60.
Wrapping up the night session was the 200 Medley Relay event. The Nazareth team of Connors, Rob Coatsworth, Koch and Farrand grabbed the E8 title with a school record time of 1:33.16 to mark the first time in E8 history the Golden Flyers have won the event. Alfred placed second in 1:33.78, while Stevens placed third (1:34.38).
Competition continues tomorrow at Ithaca's Athletics & Events Center Aquatics Pavilion with prelims at 10 a.m. and finals at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday's Schedule:
200 Freestyle Relay
400 IM
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
400 Medley Relay