BRUNSWICK, Maine – Tufts increased its lead to 221 points over the field after the third day of competition at the NESCAC Women's Swimming & Diving Championships. The Jumbos won three events and finished the evening session with 1,414.5 points. Williams, which also won three events on Saturday night, stands second with 1,193.5 points while Amherst (845.0), host Bowdoin (831.0), and Middlebury (749.5) round out the top five teams.
Tufts first-year Madeleine Dunn started the evening setting a NESCAC meet record with a time of 10:00.90 to win the 1,000 freestyle race. Teammate and fellow rookie Lillian Klinginsmith captured the NESCAC title in the 100 butterfly. Klinginsmith was the No. 2 seed entering the championship and posted a pool-record winning time of 53.56.
Williams sophomore Sophia Verkleeren dropped five seconds off her prelim swim time to place first in the 400 IM (4:17.24). Verkleeren's performance extended the Ephs' dominance in the event as a Williams swimmer has won the NESCAC title for the last 17 straight championships.
Tufts senior Claire Brennan won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:49.15, marking the third straight year a Jumbo has won this title in the event.
Williams junior Amanda Wager posted a time of 1:02.70 to repeat as the NESCAC Champion in the 100 breaststroke.
Bates sophomore Sophie Cassily out-touched the field with a time of 55.75 in the 100 backstroke race to claim first place.
Amherst sophomore Sydney Bluestein completed the sweep of the NESCAC diving events with a win on the 3-meter board. Bluestein, who won the 1-meter competition on Friday night, posted 497.80 points in the finals and it marked the fourth time in five years a Mammoth diver has won the event.
In the 200 medley relay, the Williams squad of Verkleeren, Wager, junior Samantha Kilcoyne, and first-year Irene Yang posted a pool-record time of 1:42.04 for the win. The victory increased the Ephs' hold on the event as a Williams team has won the race for eight straight championships.
The NESCAC Women's Swimming & Diving Championships conclude on Sunday with prelim swims at 10 a.m. and the evening session starts at 5:15 p.m.
Team Standings
- Tufts – 1414.5 pts
- Williams – 1193.5 pts
- Amherst – 845 pts
- Bowdoin – 831 pts
- Middlebury – 749.5 pts
- Bates – 606.5 pts
- Hamilton – 511.5 pts
- Colby – 506.5 pts
- Conn. College – 456 pts
- Wesleyan – 405.5 pts
- Trinity – 287.5 pts
