Fifteen Records Set and Re-Written, Nine Performances Qualify Nationally

GREENSBORO, N.C. --- The second day of competition at the 2014 ODAC Swimming Championships proved to be arguably the fastest set of events in conference history as 15 records were set or reset in addition to eight performances eclipsing the NCAA Division III "B" cut towards national championship qualification.  Washington and Lee University was involved in nine new standards and five B-cut swims as the Generals extended their lead in the points standings.

After 12 events, W&L has racked up 643 total points thanks in part to victories in eight events.  Emory & Henry College maintained its hold of second place with 382 tallies, increasing its edge over third place Randolph-Macon College (331).  Sweet Briar College sits fourth with 242 points, while Bridgewater College is 17 points clear of Greensboro College for fifth with 187 markers.

Women's Results     Men's Results

Individually, W&L's Caroline Hamp and E&H's Michaela Nolte accounted for eight edits to the conference's record books.  Hamp, the 2013 ODAC Swimmer of the Year, penciled her name in league history during the preliminary round as her time of 57.67 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly established new ODAC overall and championshp meet standards.  It also came in underneath the NCAA's B-cut qualification mark (57.73).  Hamp was .03 seconds quicker in the evening's finals, resetting both benchmarks and improving her D-III qualifying mark.

Nolte saw her preliminary and finals performances match that of her Generals' counterpart.  Nolte posted a time of 1:05.74 in the 100-yard breaststroke prelims, snapping both conference records and qualifying nationally.  Her finals time proved a quarter-second faster as she touched the wall first in 1:05.49.

In the 400-yard individual medley, two swims eclipsed the national B-cut.  The Wasps' Allison Fowler stopped the watches first in 4:33.74, crushing both ODAC overall and meet records by more than four seconds (4:37.89) and leaving plenty of cushion under the B-cut limit (4:36.69).  W&L's Lauren Kasoff would have also set ODAC records with her 400-yard IM showing.  Her second-place time of 4:36.07 put her on the list for national qualification.

Washington and Lee's Stephanie Foster won the 100-yard backstroke finals in 58.16 seconds, but it was her preliminary finish that brought further distinction.  Her time of 57.76 seconds in the morning session not only set her up as the #1 seed in the evenings finals, but also beat the NCAA B-cut (57.85) and established a new ODAC overall record (58.08). *

The Generals' Meredith Hardy nearly added to the tally of rewritten records in the 200-yard freestyle finals.  Her winning time of 1:54.28 was just .17 seconds shy of the ODAC overall and meet records.

The remaining conference standards received new ink via relay results.  Washington and Lee opened Saturday evening's finals with a 1:46.24 winning time in the 200-yard medley relay.  That surpassed the ODAC overall and meet records by nearly two seconds (1:48.11) and secured a national B-cut qualification (1:46.60).

The day's final event, the 800-yard freestyle relay, also proved record-setting for the Generals.  W&L's squad capped the second day with a winning time of 7:44.93, putting pen to paper with new league overall and championship marks.

In the men's invitational, Hampden-Sydney College increased its advantage over Greensboro College in the team standings, racking up 479 points to the Pride's 301 tallies.  The Tigers posted wins in the 200-yard medley relay (1:46.54), 400-yard IM (4:36.59), 200-yard freestyle (2:07.16), 100-yard backstroke (1:00.22) and the 800-yard free relay (8:41.88).

Competition in the ODAC's three-day championship continues with preliminary and final rounds on Sunday at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.  The prelims begin at 10:00 a.m., while the finals start at 5:30 p.m.  All action can by watched LIVE on ODAC.tv.

For more information about ODAC swimming, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's championship website at www.odaconline.com/tournament/winter/swim.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and following @odacathletics on Twitter.