By Cathleen Pruden, Swimming World College Intern
While Williams claimed the NESCAC title, it was Amherst’s Emily Hyde who stole the show tonight. The senior set a new NCAA Division 3 (and NESCAC) record in the 200 breaststroke, stopping the clock at 2:12.22. The old record was set by Williams’ Lindsay Payne at NCAAS in 2006. Now the only question is how much faster can Hyde be in March? Tufts’ Amanda Gottschalk eeked out a runner up finish in a time of 2:19.05. Mariah Rawding of Bowdoin finished third (2:19.76).
In the 1650 freestyle, 2015 NCAA runner up Megan Pierce set a new meet and pool record to take the NESCAC crown. The junior won in a time of 16:41.90, 17 seconds ahead of teammate Alison McNamara (16:58.52). Conn’s Valerie Urban, the runner up in last night’s 1000, finished third in 17:04.13.
Pierce went on to win the 200 butterfly at the end of the night. In this race, the junior was pushed by Tufts’ Colleen Doolan, but pulled away in the second half, to finish in 2:02.07. Doolan finished in 2:03.77. Lindsey Prelgovisk of Bates earned third in 2:04.70.
Williams swept the podium in the 200 backstroke. Katherine Bennett improved her morning swim by seven tenths to set a new pool and meet record of 1:57.70. The senior is closing in on the 2008 NESCAC and NCAA record of 1:56.23. Olivia Jackson was just over two minutes at 2:00.11, while Katherine Priest finished in 2:01.42.
Emma Waddell, also of Williams, finished just shy of Kendra Stern‘s meet and pool records (50.31), stopping the clock at 50.35 in the 100 freestyle. Her teammate Lauren Jones earned third (50.99). Conn’s Sam Pierce was the runner up in a 50.93.
In the 400 freestyle relay, Williams touched first in a pool record 2:26.35 with the team of Jones, Maddie Downs, Faye Sultan, and Waddell. An exuberant Bowdoin squad of Bridget Killian, Sterling Dixon, Lela Garner, and Mariah Rawding snagged second in 3:27.95. Third went to Bates’ Sarah Daher, Prelgovisk, Caroline Depew and Logan McGill in 3:28.22.
On the boards, Ari Ross set a pool record 487.00 for the three meter NESCAC title. Bowdoin teammates Rebecca Stern (405.35) and Christine Andersen (414.75) completed the podium, also meeting the NCAA B cut.
Rookie of the Meet went to Williams’ McNamara. The freshman was second in the 500 and the 1650 and won the 1,000. Diver of the Year was her teammate Ross, who won both boards. Unsurprisingly, Swimmer of the Meet went to Amherst’s Hyde who won all three of her individual events, highlighted by tonight’s NCAA record. Carly Feinman from Wesleyan was the Senior High Point Diver. Bowdoin’s Kelsey Willard was named the Diving Coach of the Year. 2016 Swimming Coach of the Year went to Middlebury’s Bob Rupel.
Final Scores (through Event 24):
- Williams 2045
- Amherst 1343
- Bates 1317.5
- Middlebury 1090.5
- Conn 1013
- Bowdoin 959
- Tufts 720
- Wesleyan 543
- Hamilton 470
- Colby 402
- Trinity 239
Full results available here: 2016 New England Small College Athletic Conference Women: Full – Results
