Dec 6, 2013
After a quick preliminary 100 breaststroke in which he broke the Division III National record, Denison’s Damon Rosenburg came back in finals to better his new NCAA record even further. The prelims swim broke a 14 year old Denison school record which had belonged to Aaron Cole. After his drop in finals, Rosenburg also owns the fastest time ever recorded in the 100 breaststroke in 20 years of swimming at the Miami Invitational.
Rosenburg joined his teammates Sean Chabot, Andrew Rich and Carlos Maciel on the winning 400 medley relay at the end of the night helping to post a 3:16.13. He also swam in the finals of the 50 free (20.84) to finish behind teammate Ryan Fleming who recorded a career best of 20.55, and Emory’s Ross Spock who won the event in 20.48.
While the strong showing in the 400 medley relay ended the night, it began with a strong relay from the other DIII team in the meet – Emory. Ryan Bass, Jake Stephens, David Tao and Spock pulled out a win over the Big Red with a 1:21.28 in the 200 freestyle relay. Spock’s 19.60 split on the relay wrapped up the win for the Eagles, and was the fastest split of the event. The Denison team of Fleming, Rosenburg, Conrad Wuorinen and Spencer Fronk took second in 1:21.70.
The Big Red went 1-2-3 in the 200 freestyle. Maciel took top honors in 1:38.27, followed by Chabot (1:38.30) and Joe Brunk (1:39.34), all recording DIII B cuts. Also making B cuts in the event were DU athletes Fronk and Max Howes.
Spock took the top spot for the Eagles in the 100 backstroke, finishing in 48.88 to beat out DU’s Chabot and Fronk who took second and third place in 49.13 and 50.26, respectively.
DU picked up its final individual event victory in the 400 IM, going to Jack Lindell in 3:56.19. Lindell beat teammates Jackson Humphrey who took second in 3:58.50. The only other athlete under the four minute mark was Emory’s Jake Stephens who squeaked under, finishing at 3:59.87 for third.
On the boards, Connor Dignan made finals for the one meter and then took fourth with his score of 304.50.
On the women’s side, Denison and Emory also had strong showings against the DI competitors.
The DU quartet of Carolyn Kane, Ashley Yearwood, Mary Van Leuven and Morgan Nuess took third in the 200 freestyle relay finishing in 1:33.02 right ahead of Emory’s A relay (1:34.50). The Eagles’ relay was comprised of Marissa Bergh, Dana Holt, Suzanne Lemberg and Nancy Larson.
Denison’s Michelle Howell made an impact on the 200 butterfly in prelims, swimming a 2:03.95, but fell short in finals, finishing eighth with a 2:05.45. Emory’s Nina Zook was fifth in the event with 2:03.11. Emma Szczupakiewicz of Miami won in 2:01.43.
The women’s 200 freestyle was very red: Kane, Molly Willingham and Campbell Costley went 5-6-7 (1:50.91 – 1:51.47 – 1:51.86). The Eagles’ representative, Bergh, was eigth in 1:52.63. Courtney Pope of Illinois won in 1:49.25.
Annelise Kowalsky and Lizzie Aronoff of Emory went 4-5 in the 100 breaststroke, 1:03.20 to 1:03.29. DU’s Natalie Lugg took seventh, touching in at 1:03.46.
DU’s Willingham showed up again in the 100 backstroke to take third, finishing in 56.14. Emory’s top finisher was Ellie Thompson taking fifth in 56.26. Alison Meng (Illinois) won the event in 55.47.
In the 400 IM, Howell had a second chance to shine, and posted a strong third place finish, finishing in 4:24.49. She was the only woman from Big Red in the top heat, but Emory juniors Michelle York and Megan Beach joined her for some DIII repin, finishing fifth (4:25.54) and eighth (4:28.46) respectively. Miami’s Aubrey Kluth took first in 4:21.31.
Wrapping up the individual events, the women’s 50 freestyle featured some fast swimming by Kane – she took the runner up spot to Miami’s Cynthia Donovan to finish in 23.34. Emory’s Larson was fourth in 23.53.
In the final event of the day, Denison’s Liz Kane, Marissa Bednarek, Krysta Garbarino and Nuess teamed up to take second in 4:36.93. Emory’s A relay team of Thompson, Kowalsky, Nina Zook and Larson was fourth in 3:47.11. Illinois’ A relay was victorious in 3:44.77.
The final evening session begins at 5:30. For complete day 2 results, click here.