From Emory University Athletics
The dynasty continued Saturday night in Shenandoah, Texas as the Emory University Women's Swimming and Diving team clinched its eighth consecutive National Championship and the 10th overall in program history.
The women's title, along with the men's team championship on Saturday night, mark the 21st and 22nd Division III Championships in the history of the Emory Athletics program, with women's swimming and diving claiming titles in 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and now 2017, women's tennis winning championships in 1996, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2014 and 2016, men's tennis earning NCAA Championships in 2003, 2006 and 2012, volleyball winning in 2008 and now men's swimming and diving in 2017.
The Eagles shined once again throughout the championship meet, earning a total of nine event national titles including a sweep of all five relay events for the second consecutive year. Emory set four new Division III records across the four days of competition, collected 28 All-American finishes: 23 individual and five relays and added 15 Honorable Mention All-America certificates. Emory finished with 645.5 team points, more than 200 points ahead of second place Williams (445).
Head Coach Jon Howell was named the Collegiate Swimmers Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Women's Swimming Coach of the Year after the meet for the sixth time in his career and the second consecutive year. Howell was also named the CSCAA Men's Coach of the Year.
The Eagles began the evening winning national championships in the first two events. Sophomore Julia Durmer claimed the 1,650 Freestyle crown, touching with a school record time of 16:27.82, more than 12 seconds faster than the second place finisher. Classmate Fiona Muir followed by winning the 100 Freestyle, also setting a school record at 49.28.
The 400 Freestyle relay team featuring Muir, seniors Marcela Sanchez-Aizcorbe, Marissa Bergh and freshman Caroline Olson put the finishing touches on an all-around outstanding meet from the Eagles. The group posted a time of 3:19.56 in the championship final to win the event, a mark representing a new Division III record.
Adding All-America honors for Emory on Saturday were Bergh (5th, 50.60) and Sanchez-Aizcorbe (6th, 50.77) in the 100 Free, junior Cindy Cheng in the 200 Back (3rd, 1:58.62) and senior Annelise Kowalsky (4th, 2:15.63) and sophomore Ashley Daniels (6th, 2:17.50) in the 200 Breast.
The Eagles also saw five swimmers collect Honorable Mention All-America honors Saturday night. Junior Ming Ong in the 1,650 Free (11th, 17:06.48), Olson (11th, 50.77) in the 100 Free, junior Sia Beasley in the 200 Back (15th, 2:03.24), sophomore Hannah Lally (10th, 2:18.16) and junior Megan Campbell in the 200 Breast (15th, 2:20.87).