Records Tumble Down During Day One Finals Of 2016 Eastern Championships
The 2016 Eastern Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships continued tonight with some incredibly fast swims during the finals session. Two meet records fell that had withstood over 15 years worth of competition, while the men’s diving record was uprooted after just one year.
Reece Whitley of Penn Charter delivered a stunning performance in the 200 IM stopping the clock at the 1:47.55 mark. Whitley’s time took down Nick Kaschik’s meet record of 1:48.10 down after an eighteen-year reign. Reona Yamaguchi of Peddie finished second overall with a final time of 1:52.55, while third went to Haverford’s Brian Brenner and his time of 1:54.19.
With a whirlwind of speed the men’s 200 free relay bested the meet record of 1:22.70, a record that had stood since 1992. The relay team of Nathan Stern (21.07), Michael Blank (19.89), Joe Black (20.94), and Jared Fitzgerald (20.71) posted a final time of 1:22.61 for the new record. Penn Charter’s relay finished second in the event with a time of 1:25.56 and a close third went to Mercersburg and their time of 1:25.68.
Josh Owsiany’s men’s one-meter diving meet record of 596.35 fell after just a single year in the books. The Hill School’s Christian DeVol accumulated a stunning 599.60 points to claim the new meet record.
The Episcopal 200 medley relay team of Alex Sumner (25.64), Sally Stockett (29.71), Emma Seiberlich (24.84), and Sarah Baturka (23.69) neared the existing meet record of 1:43.38 posting a final time of 1:43.88. Mercersburg were second with a time of 1:47.3, while third went to Germantown Academy and their time of 1:49.40.
Peddie and Penn Charter kept it close in the men’s 200 medley relay finishing .32 seconds apart. The Peddie relay of Kyle Halbrecht (24.21), Reona Yamaguchi (25.94), Noah Housekeeper (22.60), and Michael Blank (20.10) turned in a final time of 1:32.85 over the Penn Charter relay’s 1:33.17. That relay consisted of Jake Brogan (25.68), Reece Whitley (23.93), Jack Mahoney (21.90), and Tripp Griffith (21.66).
Emma Seiberlich of Episcopal nabbed her first win of the night in the women’s 200 free posting a final time of 1:49.71. That bettered her prelims time of 1:50.88 by 1.17 seconds. Lindsay Tanner of Mercersburg finished second with a time of 1:51.89, while third went to Karlee Carminati and her time of 1:52.40.
Later in the evening Seiberlich added the women’s 100 fly to her list of titles with a final time of 55.23, adding slightly to her prelims time of 55.16. Germantown Academy’s Lauren Henasey took second in the fly with a time of 56.96, while Riley Flick of Agnes Irwin rounded out the top three with a 58.30.
Peddie’s Roman Horoszewski blasted to first in the men’s 200 free with a time of 1:39.51 from lane five, bettering upon his prelims time of 1:41.23 by 1.72 seconds.
Episcopal’s Alex Sumner dashed to first in the women’s 200 IM, finishing almost five seconds ahead of the competition with a time of 2:01.24. Agnes Irwin’s Maddie Aguirre finished second in the event with a 2:06.14, while third went to Mercersburg’s Stephanie Downing (2:08.90).
Peddie’s Vanessa Ruiz delivered a stunning performance in the women’s 50 free to grab first with a 23.50, adding a slim .02 seconds to her prelims time of 23.48. The Hill School’s Payton Miles was second with a time of 23.73 with Sarah O’Leary from Mercersburg touching close behind with a time of 23.75 for third.
Ryan Torie of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy bested the competition in the men’s 50 free with a time of 20.35, improving upon his prelims time of 20.64. Alberto Mestre of The Hill School added slightly to his prelims time of 20.55 to finish second with a 20.64. Third went to Mahoney of Penn Charter and his time of 20.93.
The men’s 100 fly was a tight race with the top three finishers posting times within .75 seconds of one another. Haverford’s Alex Boratto dashed ahead of the senior crowd to claim first with a 50.11. Coming in second was Loyola senior Sammy Logue and his time of 50.63. Episcopal’s Ben Baturka rounded out the top three with a 50.86.
In the final women’s event for the night, the 200 free relay, Mercersburg and Peddie fought to the finish for first. The relay team of O’Leary (23.89), Morgan King (24.79), Lauren Ferner (23.89), and Lindsay Tanner (23.17) outlasted Peddie with a time of 1:35.74. Peddie’s relay team of Nika Blank (23.86), Sariyah Sherry (24.08), Erin Fago (25.05), and Ruiz (22.90) finished close behind with a final time of 1:35.89.
Day two prelims begin at 8 a.m. Eastern Time tomorrow with Swimming World on hand to stream it all! Be sure and check our coverage page for recaps, videos, and results!