WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT. 2/18/11 – It was a day full of NCAA Division III Championship qualifying marks and school records for Keene State College at the men's and women's New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) meet at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in White River Junction, Vt. on Friday.
Keene State Coach Jack Fabian called its one of the best days for the Owls during his six-year tenure. "The guys swam lights out and our small women's team really held their own," he said.
Looking for its third straight title, the Keene State men lead after the first day of competition with 487 points. Bentley University is second with 339 points. On the women's side, Keene State, vying for its fourth consecutive crown, is second with 540 points. Bentley is on top of the team standings with 713 points.
The Keene State men won six events and set three school and two meet records. Senior Cody Larrimore (Trappe, Md.) led the way winning the 50 free (21.03) and 100 fly (50.40). Owl freshman Drew Ledwith (Keene, N.H.) won the 500 free (4:32.01) and placed second in the 200 back (1:55.70). His time in the 500 free was a meet and school record. Fellow freshman Jared Hyde (Tolland, Conn.) also won the 200 I.M. with a school record time of 1:54.66.
Senior Connor Pennoyer (Norwalk, Conn.) also had a fine first day for the Owls, placing second in the 100 fly (50.43) and the 50 free (21.47).
The KSC men won both relays. The team of sophomore Austin Harris (Essex Junction, Vt.), Pennoyer, Hyde and Larrimore won the 200 free relay with a meet and school time of 1:22.88. It was also a NCAA Championship B cut.
Sophomore Marc Marois (Derry, N.H.) and freshman James Black (Lynn, Mass.) joined forces with Pennoyer and Larrimore to win the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:30.25.
The Keene State women won four events and set three school and two meet records. Sophomore Kaila Umbarger (Chelmsford, Mass.) turned in the top performance by the Owl women, posting an NCAA championship A cut as well as a meet and school record with a time of 23.44 in the 50 freestyle race.
Junior Maureen O'Leary (Nashua, N.H.) won the 100 fly with a meet and school record time of 56.36. Junior Jillian Whitaker (Gilford N.H.) broke her own school record (30.11) with her second place finish in the 50 breast race.
The Owls also shined in relay events. The 200 free relay team of freshmen Lianna Wissmann (Orleans, Mass.) and Stephanie Murray (Haverhill, Mass.), O'Leary and Umbarger won with a time of 1:38.59.
The team of Murray, O'Leary, Whitaker and Umbarger concluded the day by winning the 400 medley relay (3:54.56). Their time was an NCAA B cut.
The three-day NEISDA championships continue on Saturday.
