Defending A-10 Champions, the St. Bonaventure men and the Richmond women, lead after the third day of competition at the 2014 Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Championships.
The Bonnies took the lead in the men’s competition after day three, with a total of 516 points, thanks to A-10 record setting performances by junior Ripley Danner in the 100-yd freestyle (48.27), sophomore Michael Pilyugin in the 200-yd freestyle (1:36.35) and the St. Bonaventure 400-yd medley relay team consisting of Vatslav Lets, Matthew Schutt, Ripley Danner and Viacheslav Shchukin (3:14.43). Pilyugin also captured first place in the 100-yd backstroke with a time of 48.54 as the Bonnies swept the medals in that event.
Massachusetts, the leader after the first two days of competition, fell to second place tonight with a score of 432 points. Freshman Joshua Koppel took home gold in the men’s 3-meter dive with a score of 310.70. Koppel was joined on the medal stand by fellow freshman Nolan Burns, who finished third with a score of 258.00.
After establishing a new A-10 record in prelims Friday morning, George Mason senior Fernando Rubio bested himself in finals of the 400-yd individual medley with a time of 3:50.68. The Patriots captured gold and silver in the event along with four of the top six spots overall. George Mason is currently third overall with 408 points.
After day three of competition, standings on the men’s side are as followed: St. Bonaventure (516), Massachusetts (432), George Mason (408), La Salle (281), Saint Louis (265), George Washington (246) and Fordham (197).
On the women’s side, Richmond placed first in three events on the evening. Leading the Spiders were Kelley Yang in the 100 butterfly (54.81), Mali Kobelja in the 100 breaststroke (101.82) and the Richmond 400-yd medley relay team (3:42.75) consisting of Maggie Pope, Kobelja, Yang and Natalya Ares.
The Spiders lead with 434.5 points, followed by Fordham (318), Massachusetts (289), George Mason (281), Duquesne (261.5), Rhode Island (216), La Salle (198), George Washington (171.5), St. Bonaventure (168) and Saint Louis (101.5).
Action continues tomorrow morning with the preliminary events beginning at 10:30 AM and finals at 6:30 PM.
