Two-time defending champion Central Connecticut is in the driver's seat heading into the final day of the 2017 Northeast Conference (NEC) Swimming & Diving Championships being held on the campus of MIT in Cambridge, MA. The Blue Devils picked up four gold medals to extend its lead to 162.5 points over second place Bryant. CCSU has recorded 559.5 points, followed by Bryant (397) and Wagner (382.5).
Friday’s sessions featured the 400 individual medley, the 100 fly, the 200 free, the 100 breaststroke, the 100 backstroke and the 400 medley relay.
The second-to-last day of the championship began with the 400 individual medley, won by CCSU's Aiden Devers (North Attleboro, MA/North Attleboro) in 4:23.08. She defeated Wagner’s Kelli Boston (Roseville, CA/Woodcreek) by over one second. Boston swam the event in 4:24.91 while Saint Francis U’s Karilyn Quon (Tempe, AZ/Corona del Sol) finished third with a time of 4:24.95.
In the 100 fly, LIU Brooklyn’s Danielle Jefferies (Kihei, HI) earned her second gold of the meet after touching the wall in 55.32. Saint Francis U’s Sabrina Bowman (Vandergrift, PA/Saint Joseph’s) touched second for silver in 56.13 and CCSU’s Alexis Fredricks (Grace Island, NY/Mount St. Mary’s Academy) earned bronze by clocking in at 56.20.
The 200 free followed, which featured CCSU’s Christine Rasile (Branford, CT/Branford). claiming gold in 1:49.27. The Blue Devils earned a one-two finish as Rasile’s teammate, Lauren Czulewicz (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk), finished second in 1:50.69. Bryant’s Jillian Rice (Trumbull, CT/Saint Joseph) followed in third at 1:51.07.
CCSU’s Maddy Garber (Milford, MA/Milford) added to the Blue Devils’ pile of medals by picking up gold in the 100 breaststroke with her second NCAA "B" cut time of the day (1:01.24). In the prelims, Garber swam a blazing 1:00.01 to set a new school and meet record, and post the 17th fastest time in the nation this eason. St. Francis Brookyln’s Raphaelle Gergoire (Francorcamps, Belgium/Saint-Remacle) earned the Terriers their first medal with a second place finish and an NCAA "B" cut time of 1:02.14. Wagner’s Katja Claesson’s (Fullerton, CA/Troy High School) took third in 1:02.68.
The 100 backstroke featured Wagner’s Anu Nihipali (Honolulu, IHI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy), who won her second gold medal and finished the race in 54.22, also an NCAA "B" cut time. CCSU rounded out the top three with Kaitlyn Troy (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) in second (55.69) and Alexis Fredricks (Grand Island, NY/Mount St. Mary's Academy) in third (56.11).
Friday concluded with the 400 medley relay. CCSU pulled ahead of Wagner on the last leg to win the event in 3:43.46 and give the Blue Devils their first relay gold of the meet. The Blue Devils’ relay-winning team was comprised of Troy, Garber, Rasile and Sabree Thomas (South Hadley, MA/South Hadley).
Wagner swam second (3:45.18) backed by Nihipali, Claeson, Andrea Gustafsson (Malmo, Sweden/ProCivitas Privata Gymnasium) and Maddie McNichol (Downington, PA/Henderson). The LIU Brooklyn quartet of Nathalie Meyers (Dearborn, MI), Mads Carrigan (Overland, Park, KS), Jefferies and Katelyn Coleman (Lac La Biche, Alberta) finished third (3:50.34).
The NEC Swimming and Diving Championship will conclude Saturday, with Central Connecticut seeking its third straight NEC championship and sixth overall. Competition begins at 10:00 am.
Team Results - Following Day Three
1. Central Connecticut 559.5
2. Bryant 397
3. Wagner 382.5
4. LIU Brooklyn 275
5. Saint Francis U 269.5
6. Sacred Heart 167.5
7. Mount St. Mary’s 139
8. St. Francis Brooklyn 127
