Day Four Results

Cambridge, MA – The Wagner College swimming & diving team battled hard in its final day of competition at the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships, but fell short of taking its first ever title, as the Seahawks finished in third place for the fifth straight year.

It came down to the very last event, but Saint Francis (PA) came away with their second consecutive NEC crown, as the Red Flash edged out Central Connecticut State by one point, winning by a score of 748, to the Blue Devils 747. Wagner ended the four-day event with 552 points, surpassing Bryant on the last day, which finished fourth with 547.

Thanks to solid performances in their preliminary heats, the Green & White were able to have swimmers in all five of the championship events held on the day, but no Seahawks could find their way to the podium, as a fourth place finish in the 100 yard freestyle by Sarah Menendez (Land O'Lakes, FL / Wharton) was the closest they'd get. Menendez earned fourth with a time of 51.92, while fellow second-year Meredith Ketchmark (Plainsboro, NJ / West Windsor-Plainsboro) finished just behind her in 51.97.

Also picking up fifth place points were junior Tatum Colitz (Wyomissing, PA / Wilson) in the 200 butterfly, Kelsey Thomas (Hammonton, NJ / Holy Spirit) in the 200 yard breaststroke, and Breanne Sweeney (Staten Island, NY / Notre Dame Academy) in the 200 backstroke. Sweeney's time of 2:04.51 in the backstroke reset her own school record, as the senior competed in her final collegiate race.

Sophomore Kristiana Kalibat (Princeton, NJ / Princeton High) earned sixth place for her efforts in the longest event of the championships, the 1650 freestyle, finishing in 17:30.40.

Freshman diver Mallory Lee (Newark, CA / Moreau Catholic) narrowly missed out on her first individual championship crown on the three meter board, as the first-year standout posted a score of 233.05, but was edged out by Central's Madison Vestergaard by less than two points with a score of 234.90. Lee was also bested by Vestergaard on the one meter board on day two.

The NEC meet concludes the 2011-2012 Seahawks swimming & diving season, as Wagner finished the year with a 7-4 overall dual meet record, and a 4-1 mark in the conference.