Raker, Preston win events as Men's Swimming & Diving extends its lead on Day 2 of OAC Championships

Raker, Preston win events as Men's Swimming & Diving extends its lead on Day 2 of OAC Championships
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February 20, 2015

By Tim Glon

| OAC Championships Site | ONU Individual Results | Day 1 Recap | Day 2 Recap | Day 3 Recap | Championships Recap |

AKRON —  Ohio Northern extended its lead to 101 points on Day 2 of the three-day 2015 Ohio Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships Friday at the University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium.

Through 13 of 20 events, the Polar Bears have 566.5 points, Mount Union is second with 465.5 points and Wilmington is third with 323.5 points.

Sophomore John Raker won his second straight 400 I.M. title in 4:07.82, .38 of a second faster than his time in 2014.

After finishing runner-up in 2014, sophomore Jeremy Preston won the 100 fly in an NCAA "B" Cut :49.63, leading the Polar Bears to a 1-2-3 finish in the event.

Junior Mitchell Murphy was second in :51.88 and junior Sean O'Neill was third in :51.92, grabbing All-OAC honors for all three men.

This marks the eighth consecutive year that an ONU swimmer has won this race.

Senior Jason Luthman earned All-OAC kudos in the 100 breast for the third straight season, finishing third in :59.17.

Sophomore Eric Chen picked up All-Conference honors in the 200 free, finishing third in 1:43.20.

Freshman Ian Simpson earned All-OAC kudos in the 100 back, finishing third in :52.80.

Murphy rallied in the final 50 free leg to win the 200 medley relay in 1:34.20 for the Polar Bears in the first event of the night.

Freshman Gabe Dauch, Luthman and Preston kept ONU within striking distance until Murphy's final leg heroics. 

Northern teams have now won the event in five consecutive seasons.

In the final event of the night, senior Chris W. Hoffman, sophomore Logan Pfeifer, Chen and Dauch finished second in 6:57.95, earning All-OAC honors.

The Polar Bears have won 10 straight OAC titles and are gunning for their 11th consecutive crown this season.

The final day will be on Saturday, with the prelims at 11 am and finals starting at 5:30 pm.

Team Standings

1. Ohio Northern 566.5, 2. Mount Union 465.5, 3. Wilmington 323.5, 4. John Carroll 307, 5. Transylvania (Ky.) 247.5, 6. Baldwin Wallace 191, 7. Defiance 0.