By Onix ConcepcionHow far has swimming come? The last time the NCAA Championships were held in Indianapolis, Auburn's Aaron Ciarla won the 50 Freestyle at the Division I Championships in 19.36. This morning that time would only be 0.02 seconds faster than the NCAA Division III record.
Welcome to the 2012 NCAA Division III Championships where last night’s banquet featured bowtie pasta and this morning featured the speed that has made Indianapolis famous. The meal was a premonition of the meets first session which included a pair of ties. While the ties may have an impact in the team race, they will be second to the role speed plays in this meet.
Kenyon’s men and Emory’s women both put at least three swimmers into the finals of the 50 Free this evening. None was faster than the Lords’ Zach Turk whose 19.38 obliterated his previous Division III record of 19.75. Depending on the outcome of a morning swim-off between Curtis Ramsey and UWSP’s Joey Clapp, the Lords could put four into the big final of the 50 free. Combined with Ian Stewart-Bates top morning swim in the 500 Free, Kenyon looks to be at least five up and one down.
Defending Champion Denison also put together a solid morning, placing three swimmers into big finals and one more into consolations. Alan Weik sits second behind Stewart-Bates while Robert Lawley just missed making it back into the big heat.
Spencer Fronk leads the Big Red into the 200 IM where he will square off against Redlands’ freshman Chris DePew and Williams’ Paul Dyrkacz. DePew was the only swimmer under 1:49 and could make a run at Gary Simon’s legendary record by the time his four years are up. DePew’s brother along with past champion Colin Gladys both qualified for consolations for Redlands.
On the women’s side, Emory took a big step towards the National title by qualifying seven swimmers for finals led by Claire Pavlak in the 50 Free and second-seeded Sadie Nenning in the 200 IM.
For Nenning to win, however, she’ll have to go through the reigning NCAA Swimmer-of-the-Year Logan Todhunter. Todhunter was seeded with a 2:07 in the morning but takes the top seed into tonight’s session and is one of two Williams swimmers ranked first. The other is Caroline Wilson. Wilson and Freshman Sarah Thompson lead the way headed into finals of the 500 Freestyle.
Tonight’s finals session begins at 6:00 pm EDT. Updates will be provided at our live blog. http://www.collegeswimming.com/blog/