By Greg Pryor
The Kenyon College men began Day Two of the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships by making a statement. It was Denison University, however, that was the big winner on the morning. The Big Red placed seven men into tonight's finals and stands to gain fifty points on the Lords who lead by eleven.
On the women's side, Emory University continued to smother the competition. Already leading by eighty points, the Eagles expect to extend their lead to three digits by night's end.
With nearly four finalists in the 50 freestyle last night, all eyes were on Kenyon's 200 Free Relay when they took the blocks this morning. The quartet of David Somers, Zach Turk, Ian Richardson and Curtis Ramsey didn't disappoint. As expected, Seniors Somers and Turk gave the Lords the early lead but Richardson and Ramsey kept the party rolling along. The clock hadn't even hit the 59 second mark by the time Ramsey hit the water and even when it did it was another three seconds before the next-closest team touched the wall. Kenyon's time of 1:18.06 erased the previous record by 0.99 and stands as the 17th fastest in the country this year.
Emory put up a similar, though not as extensive gap in the women's relay. Renee Rosenkranz, Anna Dobben, Ann Wolber and Claire Pavlak's 1:32.61 was over a second faster than Denison which qualified second and nearly two seconds up on third-seeded Kenyon.
The times in the men's 400 IM were generally off. Twenty of twenty-six swimmers went slower than their seeds but Emory's Miller Douglas wasn't one of them. His 3:54.30 paces the field just ahead of 500-Free Champion Al Weik. Weik will be joined in finals by a pair of teammates and a pair of Kenyon competitors. Depending on the outcome of the 200 Free Relay both teams should be in a virtual tie by the end of the even.
After a night where they won a pair of events, Williams' Caroline Wilson and Logan Todhunter are on target to do it again. The Williams sisters lead all qualifiers headed into the 400 IM and 100 butterfly respectively. Both will have their hands full. In the IM Wilson will have to overcome a seriously-motivated Emily Schroeder. A year ago the Senior was diqualified in the event and tonight she will go for the win in a pool that has treated the Indianapolis native well. Todhunter could face the most serious test of her career in the form of Rowan's Christie Raleigh. Five years ago Raleigh won the ACC Championship in the 100 fly en route to being named the ACC Swimmer-of-the-Meet. This morning Raleigh, who is listed as a Junior was two seconds back, but with a 49.56 on her resume she could prove a wildcard.
The men's 100 butterfly featured yet another swim-off - the third of the meet - and one that could play a big role in the team race. MIT's Wyatt Ubellacker led the way into finals with a 48.10, just ahead of Pat Augustyn of Emory and Robert Barry (Denison) and David Somers (Kenyon). At press time Kenyon's Jimmy Chapman was in a three-way tie for 8th place with Connecticut's Sam Gill and W&L's Brian Stirling. Should Chapman make it top eight it will help ease the pain that Kenyon suffered when only one of its five entrants in the 200 Freestyle made it back into the championship heat. The other four made it back at night, but the "Consolation Heat" is little consolation for the Lords who saw Denison place three guys into the big heat. Tyler Harp of Redlands leads the way with the only sub-1:38 of the meet. Last night Chris DePew was just 6/10 off of the longstanding 200 IM record and Harp is similarly 7/10 off of Marc COurtney-Brooks' record.
In the women's 200 Freestyle, Sarah Rinsa (Johns HOpkins) edged Whitley Taylor of Emory for the top spot. Williams' Sarah Thompson was the third qualifier to go under 1:51.
Redlands led all teams in qualifying for the 400 Medley Relay. Denison and Kenyon were able to avoid fully loading their quartets which, when combined with an impressive Emory group should make for a fitting finish for the night's sesson. The women's relay should be similarly interesting. Kenyon's Ladies will look to get back on top of the relay podium and their morning swim seems to indicate they can do it. Celia Oberholzer, Alisa Vereshchagin, Hannah Saiz should give expected anchor Meghan Quinn the lead and the chance to avenge last night's disappointing third-place finish.
