2005 MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships
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Saint Olaf Men and Women in First Place After First Day of Competition,
Carleton's Marie Marsman Sets NCAA Record in 50-Yard Freestyle
Minneapolis – Saint Olaf College took the first-day lead in both the men's and women's team races at the 2005 MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships, which are being held at the University of Minnesota's Aquatics Center.
In the women's race, the Oles jumped out front by scoring 244 points, while Carleton College and defending champion Gustavus Adolphus College are in hot pursuit with 189.5 and 187.5 points, respectively. Macalester College is fourth with 101 points. The men's race is extremely tight with St. Olaf holding a slim three-point edge over defending champion Gustavus 213-210. Saint John's University is third with 172 points, followed by Carleton College in fourth with 96 points.
The big story of the day was Carleton senior Marie Marsman winning the 50-yard freestyle in a NCAA Division III record time of 22.78. The previous Division III mark was 22.96 set in 1998. The 50-free turned out to be a very competitive race as the top three finishers bettered the NCAA automatic qualifying time of 24.09. Beth DeLaRosby of Gustavus finished second in 23.51 and Katy Brent of St. Olaf placed third in 23.89.
Depth turned out to be the key for the St. Olaf women’s team as the Ole’s captured only one event title on the day and that was by Katie Detwiler, who won her second straight title in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:11.71. The Gustavus 200-yard free relay team of Beth DeLaRosby, Katie Garvey, Laurie Decknatel, and Laura Watkins finished first in a MIAC record time of 1:34.00. The Gusties also bettered the NCAA automatic qualifying time of 1:35.99. The Carleton 400-yard medley relay team of Jenny Grover, Molly Miller, Emily Mondloh, and Marie Marsman finished first in a MIAC record time of 3:56.48. That group also bettered the NCAA automatic qualifying time of 3:56.99.
Other event champions on the women’s side included Anne Cullen of Concordia winning the 3-meter diving, and Heather Lendway of Macalester winning the 500-yard freestyle.
The Saint Olaf men were led by their 400-yard medley relay team of Tom Kukla, Ben Wareham, JC Chambers and Drew Vanderwert which finished first in a MIAC record time of 3:25.01. Gustavus claimed four event titles on opening day as Scott Hagemeyer won his second straight title in the 50-yard freestyle (20:93), Will Sutor won his second title in the 200-yard individual medley (1:53.84), Ben Hanson won the 500-yard freestyle in a MIAC meet record time of 4:36.90, and the 200-yard free relay team of Hagemeyer, Sutor, Brian Amundson, and Evan Christianson finished first in a MIAC record time of 1:22.89. That effort also bettered the NCAA automatic qualifying time of 1:23.19.
Action continues in the three-day event tomorrow, beginning with preliminary competition at 10:30 a.m.
