2015 NEC Championships
- Wednesday, February 25- Saturday, February 28
- MIT Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center- Cambridge, MA
- Prelims/Finals Wednesday-8 PM, Thursday-Saturday 11 AM/7PM (Eastern Time Zone)
- Championship Central
The final night of competition for the NEC Championships started off with a 1-2 Wagner finish in the 1650. Last year’s winner, Grace Baird, took home the title again in this year’s event. She was off her winning time from last year (16:53.17), but the 17:05.38 that she swam tonight was enough to beat teammate Maggie Shaw by over five seconds (17:10.98). Mt. St. Mary’s Haley Fournier would finish in third to round out the podium (17:13.57).
Anu Nihipali (Wagner) secured the win the 200 back with her 1:58.33. She set the meet record last year when she swam a 1:59.38, so her time tonight better that by more than a second. Nihipali went a perfect 3-3 in her individual events at this year’s NEC Championships. Helene Neuhaur (CCSU) was the only other swimmer to break 2:00 and finished in a 1:58.84.
BRYU’s Elisabeth Schauer won the B final (2:04.84). Schauer was able to drop an astounding 6.22 seconds from her entered time and jump from 13th to 9th in the standings.
Another repeat Champion was crowned when Christine Rasile (CCSU) defended her title in the 100 free. Rasile finished with a 50.60 and beat SFU’s Jessica Reilly by over a second (51.77). Coming in third was Christine’s younger sister, CCSU freshman Lauren Rasile (51.79). Sprint freestyle obviously runs in the Rasile family.
CCSU would take the next event when Maddy Garber won the 200 breaststroke (2:13.37). In her preliminary swim Garber went a 2:14.89 to break the NEC record of 2:16.32. Her finals swim helped to drop that record down even farther. Garber won both breaststroke races at this year’s NEC Championships, and she was able to take a decisive win in the 200 over second place finisher Maggie Siocomb (WAG, 2:16.66).
The 3-meter event would see Samantha Lavich of Wagner finish firs t (246.65) and Kate Dwyer of CCSU finish 2nd (231.45).
CCSU would take win the 400 free relay and claim their fourth NEC Title. The team of Lauren Rasile (52.43), Lauren Czulewicz (51.77), Christine Rasile (50.03), and Helene Neuhaus (50.32) would set a new NEC record with their time of 3:24.55.
Team Scores
Central Connecticut:837
Wagner:813
Bryant:587
Saint Francis U:436
Mount St. Mary’s: 276
Sacred Heart:234
St. Francis Brooklyn:161