Swim & Dive Claim Meet’s First Individual Title During Impressive Day Two – University of Chicago – UChicago Athletics

By: Colin Terrill | UChicago Athletic Communications

GREENSBORO, N.C. – University of Chicago swim and dive hit the pool in North Carolina for day two of the NCAA Championships. The Maroons made a day of it by earning numerous All-American awards, breaking several records, and claiming their first individual national championship of the meet.

TEAM STANDINGS
Men’s Team: 3^rd place (167 points)
Women’s Team: 8^th place (110 points)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The highlight of the second day of action was submitted by Jesse Ssengonzi. The senior earned two All-American nods, one of which came with the squad of Hudson Tritter, Garrett Clasen, and Sebastien Vernhes during their 3^rd place school record breaking performance in the 400-yard medley relay. However, he was even more impressive in the 100-yard butterfly. Ssengonzi not only shattered the school record in the event, he also broke the NCAA record with a national championship winning time of 46.28.
• Not to be outdone by their 400-meter counterparts, the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Jonathan Tang, Jason Starbuck, Igor Benderskii, and Vernhes broke the Maroons mark with a 4^th place All-American performance with a time of 1:19.54.
• Other swimming All-Americans were Clasen in the 100-yard butterfly (4^th place – 47.24), Alesha Kelly in the women’s version of the same race (6^th place – 55.14), and the team of Kelly, Ioanna Georgopoulou, Alicia Soosai, and Annabel Olivo in the 400-yard medley relay (7^th place – 3:46.76).
• Three women hit the diving board on the other end of the pool for the one-meter event and the same number came away with All-American awards. Veronica Fong led the trio with a second-place finish (452.70) while Lilia Atanda came in fourth (447.25) and Cynthia Tang was right behind her with a fifth place score (440.85).

OTHER RESULTS

• Women’s 200-yard Freestyle: Annabel Olivo – 15^th place (1:52.05)
• Women’s 400-yard IM: Ella McEver – 10^th place (4:23.09) SCHOOL RECORD

WHAT’S NEXT
Both the men and women will look to stay within striking distance of the top team spots when the four day event resumes with day three tomorrow morning at 10:00 am with Friday’s prelim races and diving event.

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