Ohio Northern women hold 115-point lead after Day 2 of OAC Swimming & Diving Championships
By Tim Glon
AKRON — The Ohio Northern women extended their lead to 115 points on the second day of the Ohio Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships at the University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium on Friday.
The Polar Bears have 570 points and have set five OAC records, eight school records and four NCAA "B" Cuts through 13 of the championships' 20 events.
John Carroll is second with 455 points, Mount Union is third with 451 points, new OAC member Transylvania (Ky.) is fourth with 266 points, Wilmington is fifth with 204 points and Defiance is sixth with 92.
Northern has won eight of the 13 events thus far and is looking for its fifth consecutive OAC Championships crown.
Junior Lindsey Rayhill won her third consecutive crown in the 100 fly, touching in an OAC and ONU record and NCAA "B" Cut :57.11.
Seniors Sarah Fiffick and Mackenzie Hoffman rallied in the final 25 yards to finish 1-2 in the 200 free.
Fiffick touched in 1:56.70 and Hoffman was second in 1:56.80, while Wilmington's Tori Watson was third in 1:56.81 after leading for most of the race. The .10 margin of victory makes this the closest 200 free race in OAC history, surpassing the .22 margin set in 2006.
The second place finish by Hoffman makes her a four-time All-Conference honoree in the event.
Freshman Lindsey Inkrott defeated three-time defending OAC champion Julia Adams of John Carroll in the 100 back, setting OAC and ONU records and surpassing the NCAA"B" Cut in the event in :56.87.
Sophomore defending 400 I.M. OAC champion Taylor McCabe earned All-Conference accolades for the second consecutive season by finishing third in the event in 4:44.81.
Senior Amy Elmer won the OAC crown in the 1-meter diving, breaking her own school record in the event with an NCAA "B" Cut of 439.85 points.
Northern began the night by winning the 200 medley relay in record-setting fashion and ended it by winning the 800 free relay in record-setting fashion.
Inkrott, junior Jennifer Hartsel, Rayhill and Fiffick won the 200 medley relay in 1:46.99, setting new OAC and ONU records and bettering the NCAA "B" Cut in the process.
In the 800 free relay, Hoffman, Rayhill, Fiffick and sophomore Ashley Zoeller won in an OAC and ONU record 7:48.99.
Hartsel earned All-OAC kudos in the 100 breast by finishing third in 1:08.33.
"We had a strong day today," ONU head coach Peggy Ewald said. "We had some amazing swims, with many OAC and school records and NCAA 'A' and 'B' Cuts. Other OAC schools are pushing and competing well also. It is too soon to celebrate, but we are in good position right now.
"I am proud of our we are sticking to our game plans and are swimming our own races, not reacting to what other teams are doing."
The top three individuals and the top two relay teams in each event earn All-OAC kudos.
The third and final day of the OAC Championships will be Saturday with prelims at 11 am and finals at 5:45 pm.
