From Emory University Athletics
The 200 Freestyle Relay team claimed the second national championship for the Emory University Men's Swimming & Diving team at the 2016 NCAA Division III Championships on Thursday evening in Greensboro, N.C. After two days of competition the Eagles remain in third place with 205 points trailing first place Kenyon College (272.5) and second place Denison University (258).
The 200 Free Relay team of freshman Trey Kolleck and a trio of sophomores Alexander Hardwick, Aaron Schwartz and Oliver Smith posted a school record time of 1:19.83 to win the event. Emory was trailing heading into the fourth leg of the race but Smith, the 50 Freestyle National Champion on Wednesday, erased close to a body-length deficit to help the Eagles claim the national title. It is just the fourth time a relay has won a national championship in school history.
Emory added three more All-Americans in addition to the 200 Freestyle Relay on Thursday bringing the team's two day total to eight; six individuals and two relays.
Junior Christian Baker and freshman Thomas Gordon finished just .04 second apart in the 200 Free event. Baker placed third at 1:38.33 and Gordon came in fourth at 1:38.37. The Eagles closed out day earning All-America honors in the 400 Medley Relay with a sixth place showing. The quartet of junior Mitchell Cooper, sophomore Cooper Tollen, Baker and Hardwick touched at 3:17.45.
Sophomore Chandler Lichtefeld earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in the 400 IM, finishing 14th with a time of 4:01.32 to round out Emory's top performers on day two.
Action continues tomorrow as day three events include the 200 Butterfly, 100 Backstroke, 100 Breaststroke, 800 Freestyle Relay and men's 1-meter diving.
Fans can watch the action here: http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2016/03/18 and can follow live updating results here: http://www.collegeswimming.com/results/53000/.