JMU Women Challenging W&M on Day 3 of CAA Championships

Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) – Men and Women

• Wednesday, February 24 – Saturday, February 27, 2016
• Richmond, VA (Eastern Time Zone)
• Defending champion: William & Mary men; Towson women (3x) (results)
• Live results: Available here
• Live video: Available here
• On demand video: Diving Day 1 │ Diving Day 2 │ Swim Day 1
• Championship Central

Day Three results

The team battles intensified on Friday at the CAA Championships. On the women’s side, while William and Mary continued to lead, James Madison performed well and finished a mere 19 points back in second place. Northeastern put up a fight for fourth with Delaware, while UNCW and Drexel raced for sixth. On the men’s side, The Tribe increased its lead over Drexel at the top of the standings, while Delaware, Towson, and UNCW each scored well enough to make it an exciting contest for third.

400 Yard Individual Medley

1. Hannah Snyder, Towson, 4:16.94
2. Christine Hammond, Towson, 4:19.84
3. Madeline Maher, Delaware, 4:19.96

After her third place finish in the 500 free on Thursday, Towson senior Hannah Snyder won the 400 IM with 4:16.94. Snyder thus avenged her 2015 second-place-by-.06 finish to teammate Christine Hammond, who was second this year in 4:19.84. Hammond just held off Delaware junior Madeline Maher for the silver medal. Maher was third last year as well.

1. Jeremiah O’Donnell, William and Mary, 3:51.40
2. Sean Higgins, William and Mary, 3:53.89
3. Alex Tooley, Delaware, 3:54.40

William and Mary continued to distance themselves from second-place Drexel on Day Three. Beginning with the 400 IM, in which they placed five swimmers in the “A” final, the Tribe racked up points in event after event. Defending champion Jeremiah O’Donnell won the event in 3:51.40, 2.6 seconds off his meet record but 2.5 ahead of teammate Sean Higgins. Higgins was second in 3:53.89, ahead of Delaware’s Alex Tooley (3:54.40). William and Mary’s Alex Grimes, third in prelims, was disqualified in the final.

100 Yard Butterfly

1. Jessie Ustjanauskas, William and Mary, 53.21
2. Sara Touchette-McGowan, Northeastern, 53.79
3. Catherine Gargula, Wilmington, 54.10

2015 runner-up, senior Jessie Ustjanauskas of William and Mary, clocked a 53.21 for the win in the women’s 100 fly. Northeastern sophomore Sara Touchette-McGowan, who was third last year, moved up a spot to second with her 53.79 finish. UNC Wilmington senior Catherine Gargula rounded out the podium with 54.10, a 7/10 improvement over her seventh-place finish last year.

1. Evan Baker, William and Mary, 47.56
2. Kyle Lukens, Drexel, 47.59
3. Jack Saunderson, Towson, 48.01

William and Mary and Towson scored big on the men’s 100 fly. Sophomore Evan Baker of the Tribe, who finished seventh last year, earned a win going 47.56 in front of Kyle Lukens of Drexel (47.59) and Jack Saunderson of Towson (48.01), both of whom were ahead of Baker at the 50.

200 Yard Freestyle

1. Quinn McMillan, James Madison, 1:46.92
2. Kristen Zielinski, James Madison, 1:47.94
3. Dominique Montoya, Delaware, 1:48.15

Fifth, third, and eight respectively in 2015, Quinn McMillan of JMU, her teammate Kristen Zielinski, and Dominique Montoya of Delaware, occupied the top three steps of the podium this year. McMillan won in 1:46.95, a second ahead of Zielinski (1:47.94) and Montoya (1:48.15).

1. Joseph Eiden, William and Mary, 1:36.78
2. Billy Russell, William and Mary, 1:37.39
3. Cory Camp, Delaware, 1:38.65

William and Mary’s Joseph Eiden recovered from his third-place finish in the 50 free on Thursday to win the 200 free on Friday with 1:36.78. The fastest time of the day came from runner-up Billy Russell of The Tribe, who clocked a 1:36.45 in prelims and then a 1:37.39 in finals. Cory Camp of Delaware rounded out the podium with 1:38.65.

100 Yard Breaststroke

1. Rachel Bernhardt, Drexel University, 1:00.65
2. Jenna Van Camp, Towson, 1:00.82
3. Taylor Ellis, Northeastern, 1:02.19 and Katie Parker, James Madison, 1:02.19

2015 runner-up, Drexel junior Rachel Berhnardt, put up the best time in finals to earn the gold medal this year with 1:00.65. Towson senior Jenna Van Camp, who won this event with 59.70 last year, swam a 1:00.82 in finals to finish second. Northeastern’s Taylor Ellis and James Madison’s Katie Parker, respectively fourth and sixth last year, tied for third this time around with 1:02.19.

1. Josh Zimmt, William and Mary, 55.19
2. Will Ryan, Wilmington, 55.36
3. Joel Todd, Towson, 55.69

2015 finalists Josh Zimmt of William and Mary and Will Ryan of UNC Wilmington moved up to first and second, respectively, with their finishes of 55.19 and 55.36. Joel Todd of Towson, who made the consolation in 2015, rounded out the podium with 55.69.

100 Yard Backstroke

1. Sophie Rittenhouse, William and Mary, 53.71
2. Catherine Gargula, UNC Wilmington, 54.51
3. Jacy Icard, Towson, 54.62

Defending champion Sophie Rittenhouse of William and Mary became the first woman in CAA history to break 54 in the 100 back, setting a new meet and conference record of 53.71 with her win in today’s event. Wilmington’s Catherine Gargula edged Jacy Icard of Towson, 54.1 to 54.62, for second.

1. Joel Berryman, Drexel, 47.16
2. Will Manion, William and Mary, 47.46
3. Dominic Breschi, Towson, 47.66

Drexel senior Joel Berryman followed his 50 free win with a repeat performance in the 100 back. Berrryman was a half-second faster than his second-place finish of 2015, touching in 47.16. Will Manion of William and Mary was second with 47.46. Towson’s Dominic Breschi rounded out the podium in 47.66.

400 Yard Medley Relay

1. William and Mary, 3:38.32
2. James Madison, 3:40.55
3. Northeastern, 3:41.44

William and Mary’s Rittenhouse (53.85), Annie Valls (1:02.89), Ustjanauskas (52.73), and Miller (48.85) picked up a win in the women’s 400 medley relay with a new meet and championship record of 3:38.32. JMU followed with 3:40.55. Northeastern took third with 3:41.44

1. William and Mary, 3:14.06
2. Towson, 3:16.48
3. UNC Wilmington, 3:16.93

William and Mary clocked a 3:14.06 in the men’s race, ahead of Towson (3:16.48) and Wilmington (3:16.93).

Women’s Scores

1. William and Mary, 506. 50
2. James Madison University,487.50
3. Towson University, 374. 50
4. University of Delaware, 314
5. Northeastern University, 303.50
6. University of North Carolina, Wilmington, 198
7. Drexel University, 172

Men’s Scores

1. William and Mary, 639.50
2. Drexel University, 427
3. University of Delaware, 345
4. Towson University, 344
5. University of North Carolina, Wilmington, 322. 50