2016 A-10 Men’s & Women’s Championships
- Wednesday, February 17- Saturday, February 20
- Geneva, Ohio- Spire Institute
- Defending Champs: Men-Massachusetts, Women-Richmond
- Championship Central
- Live Results
- Video
Women
After her scintillating leg on the 800 free relay that won Davidson the race yesterday, Elise Lankiewicz continued her dominance, winning the 500 free in a time of 4:44.88. That time shattered the 21 year-old conference and meet record previously held by Bambi Bowman of George Washington who had a time of 4:48.21. It also broke the pool record of 4:46.37 established by Jessica Powers in 2014. Annie Lane of Richmond finished 2nd in 4:46.39, also under the old conference and meet record. Emma Smith of La Salle was 3rd in 4:49.77, Nicole Piercy of Richmond was 4th in 4:52.04, and Taylor Kane of Duquesne was 5th in 4:54.99.
Fordham’s Megan Polaha used a strong breaststroke leg to overtake Richmond’s Hannah Matheson in the 200 IM, winning in 2:00.85 over Matheson’s 2:01.86. Pohala’s time got under the NCAA B standard of 2:01.59. Massachusetts Meriza Werenski was 3rd in 2:02.06, Duquesne’s Abby Stauffer was 4th in 2:02.13, and Katy Williams of Davidson rounded out the top-5 in 2:03.54.
Syndey Fisher of George Mason improved her prelim time by 0.01, taking the 50 free in a time of 22.73, the only woman under 23 seconds. That swim also broke her own meet record from the prelims. That swim got her under the NCAA B cut of 22.99. Gabrielle Sibilia and Sam Ray of Duquesne finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in 23.05 and 23.10, and Shannon Lulley of Fordhamn was 4th in 23.13.
In the 1-meter diving event, Massachusetts’ Emma Roush defended her top seed from the prelims, winning with a score of 290.80. Wendy Espina-Esquivel of Fordham was 2nd with a score of 254.75, and Roush’s Massachusetts teammate Katie Polk was 3rd with a score of 247.65. Massachusetts divers had a very good session, as Julia Jagannath scored the 3rd highest total with 249.80, but she was 9th as she was in the consolation final.
The Duqesne women got by Davidson in the 200 free relay by just 0.04, as Duquesne put up a 1:32.61 for the win. The winning team consisted of Sam Ray (23.26), Kristen McKnight (23.51), Claire Nobles (23.10), and Gabrielle Sibilia (22.74). This was a major win for Duqesne over Davidson as the two teams are locked in a very tight battle for 2nd place behind meet leading Richmond (who finished 6th). Davidson finished in 1:32.65, with a fast lead-off from Elise Lankiewicz (22.96) and anchor from Angie Healy (22.94). George Mason finished 3rd in 1:32.97, with 50 free champ from earlier in the night Sydney Fisher giving them the early lead in the race opening in 22.78.
Heading into day 3, University of Richmond leads substantially with 231 points, followed by Davidson College in 2nd with 177 and Duqesne University in 3rd just three points back at 174. Fordham is not far behind in 4th with 168.
Men
Hot off his clutch anchor leg last night that won the 800 free relay for his team, Massachusetts’ Alessio Bomprezzi cruised to a large victory in the 500 free, winning in 4:20.32. He was just off his own conference and meet record set last year of 4:19.75. Bomprezzi took the lead at the 150 mark and never relinquished it. Ryan McCoy of Saint Louis was 2nd in 4:24.84, and Steve Sholdra of Fordham was 3rd in 4:26.27. Bomprezzi’s teammates Oliver Wyeth (4:27.16) and Kyle Vieira (4:28.83) made it three Massachusetts swimmers in the top-5, as they finished 4th and 5th respectively.
Andrea Bolognesi of George Washington out swam St. Bonaventure’s Michael White on the breaststroke and freestyle legs in the 200 IM, ultimately winning in 1:46.54 over White who was 2nd in 1:47.47. Bolognesi pulled into the lead on the breaststroke splitting 29.86, and then finished the job on freestyle splitting 25.99, both splits tops in the field. Bolognesi broke White’s conference and meet record that he set in the prelims of 1:47.39. Both men were under the B cut in prelims and finals (1:49.09). Johan Roth and Jerry Gravel of La Salle tied for 3rd in 1:49.69, and Riley League of Davidson was 5th in 1:50.49. Cameron Fadley of La Salle made it 5 swimmers under 1:50, as he went 1:49.98 in the B final.
St. Bonaventure’s Michael Pilyugin defended his top seed in the 50 free, winning in 19.95, the only man under 20 seconds. He set the conference and meet records in the morning where he went 19.84. Both swims get him well under the NCAA B cut of 20.19. Zepher Begnell of George Mason was 2nd in 20.30, and Wiktor Karpinski and Owen Wright of Massachusetts were 3rd and 4th in 20.33 and 20.47 respectively.
The Massachusetts men continued their great meet, winning the 200 free relay in 1:20.96 in what was a very tight race between the top 6 teams. Wiktor Karpinski’s anchor of 19.95 sealed the win for Massachusetts, who trailed eventual second place finishers St.Bonaventure heading into the final leg. Joining Karpinski on the winning relay was Owen Wright, Brian Stiles and Kellen Gray. The top six teams were separated by just 0.54, and teams 2-5 by just 0.18. St.Bonaventure and Davidson were separated by just 0.01 for 2nd and 3rd (1:21.18 to 1:21.19), as was the same between George Mason (1:21.30) and George Washington (1:21.31) for 4th and 5th.
Heading into day 3, Massachusetts (268) holds an 81 point lead over second place St.Bonaventure (187). La Salle is third with 177.5, and George Washington, George Mason, Davidson and Saint Louis are all very close in the battle for 4th.