From University of Chicago Athletics
The University of Chicago swimming and diving teams kicked off day one of the 2017 NCAA Division III Championships on Wednesday with top-12 finishes in four different events.
Four Maroons qualified for the evening finals in their respective individual disciplines. Freshman Agnes Lo led the way by achieving All-American status in her NCAA debut in the women's three-meter dive. After scoring 427.75 points in the prelims, Lo stepped up in the finals to tally 440.00 points and finish seventh overall.
In the men's 500-yard freestyle prelims, freshman Taye Baldinazzo set a new school record at 4:29.07, which shaved more than 2.5 seconds off his previous best time. He then broke the record again in the finals with a time of 4:28.21, which clinched 11th place and Honorable Mention All-American status.
Senior Alison Wall added to her All-American career tally with an Honorable Mention performance in the women's 200-yard IM. She finished 12th with a time of 2:04.69. Wall now has 15 All-American accolades over her four years.
Sophomore Alexander Farrell was also an Honorable Mention All-American. In the men's 50-yard freestyle, Farrell placed 12th in a time of 20.55.
Three other UChicago swimmers set new personal bests in the morning prelims – senior Cara LoPiano in the women's 500-yard freestyle (4:58.73), freshman Lance Culjat in the men's 200-yard IM (1:51.53) and senior Abby Erdmann in the 50-yard freestyle (24.62).
UChicago Top Finishers (Women)
Three-meter dive (FINALS) – Agnes Lo (7th, 440.00)
200-yard IM (FINALS) – Alison Wall (12th, 2:04.69)
500-yard freestyle (PRELIMS) – Cara LoPiano (18th, 4:58.73)
50-yard freestyle (PRELIMS) – Maya Scheidl (23rd, 23.71)
200-yard medley relay (PRELIMS) – 24th, 1:47.68 (Abby Erdmann, Jessie Ho, Daria Wick, Maya Scheidl)
UChicago Top Finishers (Men)
500-yard freestyle (FINALS) – Taye Baldinazzo (11th, 4:28.21)
50-yard freestyle (FINALS) – Alexander Farrell (12th, 20.55)
200-yard medley relay (PRELIMS) – 18th, 1:31.48 (Byrne Litschgi, Reona Yamaguchi, Alexander Farrell, Jonathan Simoneau)
200-yard IM (PRELIMS) – Lance Culjat (20th, 1:51.53)