http://miac-online.org/news/2012/2/17/SWIM_0217120538.aspx
MINNEAPOLIS --The 2012 MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships
continued with Session 3 Friday morning at the University of
Minnesota Aquatic Center, the preliminary round's highlights
included a second meet record in as many days and a three-time
defending champ positioning himself for a rare four-peat.
It was a good morning to be a Tommie, as St. Thomas freshman Emily
Punyko made the most of her MIAC Championship debut by swimming to
a first-place finish - as well as a new meet record - in the
women's 100-yard breaststroke. Punyko's time of 1:04.85 is the
fastest ever at the MIAC Championships, and it met the 2011 NCAA
Selection Time. The previous record was 1:05.41, set by
Macalester's Karoline Hart in 2009.
In Friday night's finals, Punyko will turn her attention to the
overall MIAC record of 1:04.58, held by Saint Benedict's Katie
Kuhlmann (2001). In order to win the title, however, the first-year
swimmer will again have to hold off defending champion Lindsey Lee
of St. Olaf, who sits in second after finishing in 1:06.77 Friday
morning.
The Tommies' other top highlight came from senior Erik Huls, who
swam the morning's fastest time in the men's 100-yard butterfly
with a 50.71. Huls will try to win the event in each of his four
seasons Friday night, and take aim at his own meet record of 49.04.
His chief competition will be Carleton's Erik Klontz (50.90), who
set a meet record in Thursday's prelims en route to winning the
men's 50-yard freestyle.
UST also swept the top three spots in the men's 100-yard backstroke, with Michael Hoelterhoff touching the wall first with a time of 51.98. Ethan Nimens came in second in 52.73 and Justin Mullee - who held the MIAC's top time in the event heading into the meet - was third with 52.95.
Both the St. Olaf men's and women's teams also had a strong
session, with the men currently tied for first with the Tommies and
the women just 11 points behind two-time defending champion
Gustavus. Several Oles who have already experienced success in the
meet stepped up again Thursday morning with impressive
performances.
Meghan Weiss, who won the 500-yard freestyle for the second year in
a row Thursday night, is also in position to defend her title in
the 200-yard freestyle after meeting the NCAA 'B' qualifying
standard to win Friday morning's prelim with a time of 1:53.66. She
just barely beat Katie Olson from Gustavus, who won the
second-to-last heat with a 'B' standard time of 1:53.88.
Meanwhile Lydia Feldman - the 200-individual medley winner on
Thursday - won the 100-yard butterfly prelim with a time of 58.20,
edging the defending champion in the event and two other swimmers
in a closely contested race. Gustavus' Steph Korba, who won the
event last year, is in fourth with a time of 58.39.
On the men's side, the Oles' Colby Kubat met the 'B' standard with
a time of 57.35 to lead the field in his quest to repeat as champ
in the 200-yard breaststroke. Kubat was second the night before in
the 200-yard individual medley, which was won by freshman teammate
Michael Gratz. Gratz added a win in Friday's 200-yard freestyle
preliminary with a time of 1:41.78, just ahead of Sam Rauchwarter
(1:42.35) from St. Thomas, who is the defending champ in the
event.
The Oles also got a first-place performance Friday morning from
Spencer Scarth in the 400-yard individual medley with a 'B'
standard time of 4:04.99. Saint John's Josh Seaburg was second with
a time of 4:11.42 after edging out Scarth for the title in the
500-yard freestyle Thursday night.
In the women's 100-yard backstroke, Gustavus' Alissa Tinklenberg
continue her strong performance at the MIAC Championships by
finishing first with a 'B' standard time of 57.48. St. Catherine's
Steph Jurusik finished first in the women's 400-individual medley
with a time of 4:39.00 after finishing second in the 200-yard
individual medley Thursday night.
After the semifinal round of the women's 3-meter diving
competition, it's a close race at the top with three divers
separated by just 12 points. Macalester's Renee' Jordan leads at
188.65, St. Thomas' Jennifer Easton is second at 180.10 and Saint
Mary's Elizabeth Flynn with a score of 176.35.
The 2012 MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships continue Friday
evening with the second finals session of the event. Doors open at
5:30 p.m. with diving starting at 6:30 p.m. and swimming events
beginning at 7 p.m. The events on the Session 3 schedule are:
women's 3-meter diving, 200-medley relay, 400-yard individual
medley, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard
breaststroke, 100-yard backstroke and 800-yard freestyle relay.
The MIAC and Webcast America have also teamed up to provide a live
Webcast of all six sessions. Live results are also available,
updated shortly after each event. Links to the live stats, live
broadcast, full championship information, results, schedules and
more are all available on the 2012
MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships home page. Photos from
Session 3 are also available
online, and can be purchased right off the MIAC site.
NOTE: When Thursday's women's team scores were originally reported, one event had not yet been updated on the results, so that error has been corrected and accurate team results are now posted online.