By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern
Tonight the Kenyon Ladies will try to hold onto their lead and upset the Big Red women, who are seeking their eighth straight NCAC Title. The Big Red men currently hold the lead over Kenyon, and the final event in their battle with the Lords should be another exciting relay.
Women’s Meet
Two Kenyon freshmen were first to the wall in the first event of the morning. Delaney Ambrosen was well ahead in a 2:02.05, while teammate Abby Chopp stopped the clock at 2:05.14. DePauw’s Kirsten Olson recorded a 2:05.65.
The Kenyon women put together another impressive morning, putting five Ladies into the Championship final of the 100 freestyle. Senior Hannah Lobb lead the way with a 50.73. Her teammate Jenner McLeod earned the third seed with a 51.52. Denison’s Mary Van Leuven touched second this morning in 51.28.
Kenyon sophomore Julia Wilson continued to shine, setting the pool and meet record in the 200 breaststroke with a 2:14.95. That time is just three tenths off the 2015 NCAA Title earning time. Katie Kaestner, part two of Kenyon’s breaststroking duo, touched second in 2:17.97, out touching Denison’s Marissa Bednarek (2:17.98).
Halli Garza, the 2015 conference champion in the event, was first to the wall in the 200 butterfly this morning. The sophomore touched in 2:03.56. Teammate Emily Eiben finished third (2:07.96). Kenyon’s Mariah Williamson fell in between with a 2:04.35.
In the 400 freestyle relay, DePauw claimed the top seed. Caroline Bridges, Mary Woods, Annie Graves, and Angela Newlon clocked in at 3:32.90. Kenyon’s B team of Megan Morris, Fernanda Banic-Martins, Amelia Loydpierson, and Sally Huizinga touched second (3:34.68), just ahead of their A team of Laura Duncan, Ambrosen, Chopp, and Caitlin Foley (3:24.87).
Campbell Costley, Newlon, Marysol Arce, and Taylor Johns will highlight timed finals 1650 action tonight.
Men’s Meet
Denison junior Jack Lindell set himself up to win his third conference title of the weekend, claiming the top seed in the 200 backstroke (1:49.56). Teammate Jason Wessling is seeded third (1:51.67). Wooster’s Conner Gelwicks earned second (1:51.34).
Kenyon earned four and Denison earned three spots in the Championship final of the 100 freestyle. Big Red’s Ryan Fleming and Conrad Wuorinen finished in 44.97 and 45.11 for the top two seeds. The Lords’ Percy Gates touched third in 45.17.
Wabash senior Zechariah Banks is trying to claim his second breaststroke title of the weekend, grabbing the top time of 2:02.69 in the 200 this morning. Kenyon’s Danny Jurgens touched second in 2:03.16, while Denison’s Jake Ball finished third (2:05.23).
Kenyon freshman Jon Zimdars finished under the pool record for the top spot in the 200 fly. His time of 1:49.08 was over a second ahead of teammate Matthew Cooper (1:50.50). Denison’s Mitch Williams was just back in third with a 1:50.52.
Denison and Kenyon set themselves up for another huge freestyle relay battle tonight, finishing only two hundredths apart this morning. Matt Leenhouts, Oscar Anderson, Grant Carr, and Gabriel Bellot-Mcgrath prevailed in prelims, stopping the clock at 3:06.16 for Kenyon. Denison’s Joe Brunk, Wesseling, Kenny Fox, and Stuart Hohm finished in 3:06.18. Wooster’s Gelwicks, Cameron Gelwicks , Griffin Campbell, and Garret Layde recorded a 3:07.43, good for the third seed.
A timed finals of the 1650 will be swum this afternoon and tonight.
Results available here: 2016 North Coast Athletic Conference: Day 4 Prelims – Results
Was looking at the stat sheet and noticed that Denison has been consistently exhibitioning a few swimmers who have swam B cut times and would have been 2nd or 3rd in the A-final consistently throughout this meet… Is this because those swimmers are still trying to rest for NCAA’s or because Denison already had others in the A-final?