The long-awaited Landmark Conference Championships will be held this weekend, February 13-15, at Germantown Swim Center in Maryland. Although psych sheets have not yet been released publicly, a pre-scratch version has been made available to coaches, and it features some fast times from all nine schools in the conference — U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Susquehanna, Catholic University of America, Scranton, Marywood, Goucher, Drew, Juniata, and Elizabethtown.
Here are five races to watch this weekend at the Landmark Conference Championships!
1. Men’s 500 Freestyle
Catholic University sophomore Guido Saccaggi, the reigning Landmark Rookie of the Year, is the defending champion and record-holder in the 500 freestyle, but enters championship weekend as the second seed behind Susquehanna sophomore and last year’s runner up Bill Crumrine. Crumrine is seeded with a 4:46.63 to Saccaggi’s 4:48.66. Not far behind is USMMA freshman Nicholas Lambson, who enters championship weekend with a 4:51.06.
2. Women’s 50 Freestyle
Senior Julia Wisler, the two-time defending champion in the 50 free for Catholic, has her work cut out for her as the third-seed (25.13) in this year’s event. Scranton freshman Raquel Wasserman, the top seed with a 24.55, and Wisler’s teammate, freshman Rachel Chain (25.02), will both be contending for their first Landmark titles on the opening night of competition at Germantown. Marywood senior Cate Anlas, the 13th-seed in this year’s event with a 26.02, was the Landmark champion in 2011-2012 and is the current record-holder in the event with a 24.31.
3. Men’s 100 Butterfly
Last season’s champion in this event, Goucher junior Morgan Richter, will look to defend his title against a loaded field that includes runner-up William Kelsik, a junior from USMMA, top seed Jourdan Stewart, a sophomore from Susquehanna, and Andrew Jackson, an up-and-coming USMMA freshman. Stewart is the top seed with a 52.99, while Richter (53.49) and Kelsik (53.49) are third. Jackson is 6th with a 54.02. Expect Merchant Marine senior Hunter Rowan, who captured third last year, to be in the mix (53.58).
4. Men’s 200 Backstroke
USMMA senior Kevin Lindgren, the three-time defending Landmark Swimmer of the Year, will compete in the conference for the final time on Sunday in the 200 backstroke, where he is currently the top seed with a 1:51.46. Lindgren, the meet record holder with a 1:46.70, was a three-time All-American last season and finished as the runner-up in the 200 backstroke at NCAA Championships with a 1:45.42.
5. Women’s 200 Butterfly
On the final night of competition, Susquehanna sophomore Ashlee Weingarten will look to defend her 200 fly title in a tight contest. Teammate Kelsey Lessard, a junior, is the top seed with a 2:12.94, and Weingarten is third with a 2:14.70. Merchant Marine senior Jacqueline White, seeded second at 2:13.83, could spoil Susquehanna’s party. White was third at last year’s championship meet.
Photo Courtesy: Landmark Conference
To follow all of the action at this weekend’s championship meet, check out the conference’s meet website.