By Grace Nordquist, Swimming World College Intern.
Day two of the CAA championship meet picks up with the first full day of both individual events and relays. Events include the 500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free, women’s 3-Meter diving, and the 200 Free relays.
After ending day one in a three way tie on the women’s side for first, James Madison takes the lead with 308 points and William & Mary close behind at 235 points at the conclusion of day two. On the men’s side William & Mary jumps to first with 312 points, and Drexel behind them at 236 points.
Team standings
Women
Men
Women’s 500 Free
William & Mary and James Madison rock the blocks, filling the podium in the women’s 500 free. Sophomore Megan Bull of William & Mary is two-for-two in the 500, defending last year’s title. She went two seconds faster than last year, with a time of 4:44.62, a NCAA B cut standard. Julianna Jones of James Madison, finishes in second also making a NCAA B cut in the time of 4:45.83. Teammate Kristie Darmody (JMU) also sneaks into the top three, out touching W&M’s Maria Oceguera with a time of 4:52.22 to Oceguera’s 4:52.38. Tara Tiernan of W&M takes fifth, with Madison Oster of JMU in sixth, Morgan Smith W&M seventh, and Lauren Soleo eighth.
Men’s 500 Free
William & Mary bring in the points, claiming five of the top eight spots in the men’s 500 free. But it’s Drexel’s Patrick Cobb who will defend his title in a time of 4:24.77. Close behind was W&M’s Carter Kale with a time of 4:25.55, and his teammates Chris Balbo, Christopher Pfuhl and Eric Grimes take third, fourth, and fifth. Bryce Ciecko of Delaware was just out touched by Grimes to finish sixth, Ian Bidwell of W&M in seventh, and Evan Brophy of Towson claims his spot on the podium in eight.
Women’s 200 IM
Towson’s Megan Cowan takes first with a time of 2:01.06. Julia Bland’s (W&M) finish in 2:02.61 edges JMU’s Megan Marsh’s 2:02.81. Drexel’s April Forsthoffer and Gabrielle Rudy take fourth and fifth with Megan Johnson of UNC in sixth, Elizabeth Jogani of Delaware in seventh and W&M’s Ellie Henry eight.
Photo Courtesy: Twitter, @Towson_SWIMDIVE
Men’s 200 IM
Towson’s 200 IM defending champion, Jack Saunderson, takes first with a NCAA B cut, a new CAA all-time best and met record with the time of 1:45.46. Ben Skopic (W&M) finishes second with a time of 1:46.20 and Jason Arthur (Drexel) third in 1:46.73 both qualify NCAA B cuts as well. Lee Bradley (W&M) takes fourth, Jon Ransom (Drexel) fifth, teammates Jake Kealy and Steven Thalblum (W&M) sixth and seventh and Brent Hoshall (UNC-Wilmington) finishes eight.
Photo Courtesy: Twitter, @joeyd812
Women’s 50 Free
Megan Clark of Northeastern defends her title coming in at 22.43, a NCAA B cut standard. Bonnie Zhang (JMU) of last night’s winning 800 free relay anchor, touches second also with a NCAA B cut in 22.61. Evan Arsenault (UNC) takes third in 22.79 just missing the B cut standard. Jillian Breeger (JMU) fourth, teammates Missy Cundiff (W&M) and Annie Miller go fifth and sixth, Faith Pilcher (UNC) seventh, and Sydney Kirsch (JMU) eight.
Men’s 50 Free
William & Mary’s Collin Wright takes his third title, breaking the CAA meet and all-time record with a NCAA B cut in a time of 19.57. Matthew Essing of Towson took second in 19.82 and Jack Doherty of W&M third in a time of 19.91, both earning NCAA B cuts and breaking the 20 second mark. Sean Cannon (UNC Wilmington) takes fourth, Tom McGovern (UNC Wilmington) fifth just in front of Ian Thompson (W&M) in sixth, Kiran Richardson (Drexel) gets seventh and Evan Baker (W&M) claims eighth.
Women’s 3 Meter Diving
Faith Anderson (JMU), jumps to first with 310.75 points and an NCAA A cut. Teammate Hope Byrum (JMU) gets second with 308.85 joining her with an NCAA A cut. Kelsey Jehl (Towson) gets third also with an NCAA cut with 303.80 points. Emily Gross (JMU) is fourth, Sarah Stim (JMU) fifth, Emily Wilson (Towson) sixth, Adyson Lowe (UNC-Wilmington) seventh, and Sabrina Chan (Northeastern) eighth.
Women’s 200 Free Relay
James Madison’s team of Jillian Breeger, Sydney Kirsch, Bonnie Zhang, and Mackenzie Gring won with a time of 1:31.20 over UNC-Wilmington’s team of Shannon Howell, Faith Pilcher, Meghan Lahr, and Evan Arsenault in 1:32.23. Behind them in third was W&M, taking fourth was Northeastern, Towson in fifth, Drexel sixth, and Delaware eighth.
Men’s 200 Free Relay
Day two of the CAA championship meet ended on an exciting note with William & Mary winning their fourth 200 free relay title. The team of Colin Wright, Ian Thompson, Evan Baker, and Jack Doherty posted a new CAA all-time best record hitting the wall in 1:18.91, just shy of the NCAA B cut. Behind them was UNC-Wilmington’s Tom McGovern, Jack Cosgrove, Gianmichel D’Alessandro, and Sean Cannon with a time of 1:19.66. In third was Drexel, Towson taking fourth, and Delaware fifth.
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