WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT. 2/17/12 – There's
something about the NEISDA championships that brings out the best
in Drew Ledwith. The sophomore from Keene,
N.H. broke his own meet record in the 500 free with a NCAA Division
III championship A cut qualifying and school record time of 4:28.20
in the first day of competition at the meet held at the Upper
Valley Aquatics Center in White River Junction, Vt. on
Friday.
“I was sick earlier in the week, but I just went out and
got after it,” said Ledwith. “I was real happy
when I looked up and saw my time on the board.”
Ledwith, who earned All-American honors in the 1,650 last year,
shattered his mark of 4:32.01 set last year. Freshman
Gib Stevens (Reading, Mass.) finished second in
the 500 with a personal record time of 4:44.67. Stevens also took
third in the 200 back (1:56.68).
Overall, it was a very good day for both Keene State men's
and women's team. Looking to capture their fourth
consecutive title, the Owl men are in first place with 355
points. Bentley is second with 308 points. Looking to
regain their crown, the Owl women are in second place with 511
points. Bentley leads with 555 points.
KSC Coach Jack Fabian was very pleased with his
teams' first-day performances. “We had some great
swims and some terrific times,” he said. “Every
single swimmer from both teams qualified for the evening
finals.”
Fabian also noted the performances of Stevens and sophomore
Nicole Rutigliano (Woodbury, Conn.) who moved up
significantly in their events to qualify for the finals.
Sophomore Jared Hyde (Tolland, Conn.) and the
Owls' 200 free relay team also posted NCAA B cut qualifying
times. Hyde got his mark of 2:01.44 with his first place
finish in the 200 I.M. Earlier, he teamed up with junior
Austin Harris (Essex Junction, Vt.), sophomore
James Black (Lynn, Mass.) and Ledwith to clock a
time 1:23.15 with a first place finish in the relay.
The Owls finished one-two in the 50 free with Black taking first
with a time of 21.05 and Harris placing second in a time of
21.35.
Keene State also swept the top four spots in the 200 I.M.
In addition to Hyde's first place finish, junior Marc
Marois (Derry, N.H.) and freshman Randall
Dunton (St. Cloud, Fla.) were second and third
with identical time of 1:56.75 while sophomore Tyler
Tallcouch (Seymour, Conn.) placed fourth (2:00.06).
In other races, sophomore Dan Oliveira (Ludlow,
Mass.) and Tallcouch were second (52.55) and third (53.41)
respectively in the 100 fly.
The team of Ledwith, Oliveira, Marios, and Harris wrapped up the
day by winning the 400 medley relay with a time of
3:30.63.
The Keene State women won three races in the first day of the
meet. Senior Jillian Whitaker (Gilford,
N.H.) broke her own meet and school record time in the 50 breast
with a time of 29.59. Senior Maureen
O'Leary (Nashua, N.H.) placed first in
the 100 fly (56.88). Making her debut at the meet, freshman Diana
Pimer (West Haven, Conn.) won the 200 IM (2:10.15).
In the 500 free, freshman Caitlyn Shea (Salem,
N.H.) was second (5:09.21) and freshman Julie Trodden (Reading,
Mass.) was third (5:12.36.). In the 200 back, sophomore
Stephanie Murray (Haverhill, Mass.) was second
(2:10.42) and sophomore teammate was right behind in third
(2:10.96).l
Keene State had a couple of second place finishes in
relays. The team of freshman Taylor DaSilva
(Stony Brook, N.Y.), Whitaker, Pimer, and Murray was second in the
200 free (1:39.50). The foursome of Pimer, O'Leary,
DaSilva and Murray were runners-up in the 400 medley relay
(3:57.59).
The three day meet continues on Saturday.
