AKRON, OH – Niagara men’s and women’s swimming and diving capped off the Zippy Invite with two more program records. The Purple Eagles set program records in 19 different events throughout the weekend, highlighted by three record-breaking performances by Katrina Wardner (400 IM, 200 IM, 100 free). She was also a member of the 400 free, 800 free, 200 free, and 400 medley relay teams that set new program benchmarks.
On the men’s side, Nathan Dragon now holds three program records in the 500, 1650 and 1000 free events. He was also a member of the 200 medley relay team that set the new program-best time on Saturday.
Women’s Recap
• Wardner set her third individual record of the weekend in the 100 free prelims with a time of 51.86; she later improved on that time in the finals, taking .36 seconds off her previous time with a 51.50 mark.
• The women’s 400 free relay team of Wardner, Moana Houde-Camirand, Nianna Thomas, Yvonne Schere set the women’s team final program record of the weekend in with a time of 3:28.95.
• Avery Sanquist started the day for the Purple Eagles, recording a time of 17:23.60 in the 1650 free.
• Megan Smith posted a time of 2:05.11 in the 200 back, shaving more than two seconds off her preliminary time of 2:07.23.
• Kathryn Brady, Kayla Kreger both took part in the 200 breast final and collected times of 2:20.50 and 2:25.86.
• The 200 fly final saw Zoe Gavin post a time of 2:05.85, shaving nearly a full second off her prelim time of 2:06.36.
• Delaney Labue and Maggie Marody also swam in the 200 fly and recorded times of 2:10.27 and 2:11.19.
• The women secured eighth place with 351 points.
Men’s Recap
• Dragon set a program record in the 1650, clocking in at 15:52.19. He also set a 1000 free record time of 9:31.99.
• Graeme Staples posted a time of 17:18.86 to earn a pair of points for the men in the 1650 free.
• Benjamin Brkanovic qualified for the 200 back final with a time of 1:54.66 and then finished the finals with a time of 1:55.91.
• Dragon continued his excellent weekend, qualifying for the 100 free with a time of 46:09, later clocking in at 46:09 in the finals.
• Kevin Vu, Reid Tichy, and Levi Morgan also swam in the 100 free finals and posted a time of 45.63, 46.22, and 46.93, respectively.
• Sean Finley edged out his teammate Robert Flannery in the C-final of the 200 breast with a time of 2:05.51. Flannery clocked in at 2:06.38.
• Gio Germano, Dalton Steir, and Chad Rocha each took part in the 200 fly finals and recorded times of 1:56.45, 1:56.72, and 1:58.72.
• The men wrapped up the weekend in sixth place with 525 points.
Up Next
• The Purple Eagles will return to the Oxy Aquatic Center on Jan. 21 with a dual meet against Fredonia.
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