Kelley Baylis, Swimming World College Intern
This year’s New England Men’s and Women’s Athletic Conference Championships will take place today (February 19) through Sunday, February 22 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Here is the psych sheet in case you missed it!
Here are five races to watch for at NEWMACs:
1. WOMEN’S 500 FREE
Most people dread watching distance events, but I bet this year’s women’s 500 freestyle will be one to watch. Last year, Ashleigh Monroe, Springfield sophomore, took first place with a 4:59.30, and Emmie Ryan of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) followed closely behind a 5:00.03. It will be a nail biter watching these two duke it out for the top place.
2. MEN’S 800 FREE RELAY
The top three finishes finished within two seconds apart. WPI’s ‘A’ relay consisting of Andrew Kellenher, Andrew Bauer, Nathan Hughes, and Alex Powers finished first with a time of 6:48.96. Coming in a close second was MIT’s ‘A’ relay led by Alexander Lednev, Daryl Neubieser, Thomas Norris, and Remy Mock with a time of 6:49.29. Finishing third was Wheaton’s ‘A’ relay consisting of Ross Johnston, Frederick Garneau, Richard Jenkins, and Nick Fredette with a time of 6:50.58. Surely these men will not hold back this coming weekend, especially since the 800-free relay is the first event and definitely sets the tone for the rest of the championship weekend.
3. WOMEN’S 100 FLY
Last year, the top five finishes for the women all touched within a second of each other. Christina Greco from Springfield finished first with a time of 56.90. The following four place included Dorothy Ren (Wellesley) at 57.23, Nysa Casha (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, WPI) at 57.44, Delaney Dyjack (Springfield) tied Casha also with a time of 57.44, and Sarah May (Wellesley) at 57.48. This race will be a close on for the top five finishers.
4. MEN’S 50 FREE
The men’s top three finishes were the only three men to hit the 20-second mark in this event. Leading the event in first was Christian Brindamour from Coast Guard who touched at 20.30, followed by Austin Fathman from MIT with a time of 20.78, and in third place, Benjamin List from WPI with a 20.88. All three men are seniors, and all three men took the NCAA ‘B’ cut last year, it will be interesting to watch these three seniors finish out their final 50 freestyle of their college careers.
5. WOMEN’S 200 I.M.
Last year’s top three finishes were extremely close in this event. Callie Phillips from Springfield finished first with a time of 2:08.11. Teresa de Figueiredo followed close behind with 2:09.37. In third place, with a time of 2:09.45 was senior Chantel Ferguson from Coast Guard.
This year’s NEWMACs will without a doubt have many close races, especially with a tenacious new group of talented freshmen. NEWMACs will take place Thursday, February 19 through Sunday, February 22.