Feb. 24, 2012
FAIRFAX, Va. - Two-time CAA Swimmer of the Year and five-time CAA men's Swimmer of the Week in 2012 Arni Arnason (Mosfellsbaer, Iceland) captured his second individual CAA title and once against reset a CAA and ODU record to highlight day three action at the 2012 CAA Swimming & Diving Championship at the Jim McKay Natatorium.
Arnason set his second CAA championship and ODU record with a first place NCAA "B" cut time of 53.02 in the 100 breaststroke. In day two action yesterday, Arnason had set the a new CAA and ODU benchmark in capturing the CAA title in the 200 individual medley and also helped the Monarchs' 400 medley relay team to a conference title and new Monarch record as well.
The Old Dominion men's swimming & diving team currently stands in fourth place among the seven conference teams competing. The Monarchs have registered 364 points and sit behind reigning conference champion UNC-W with 456 points, host George Mason with 408 points, and William & Mary with 382.
The Old Dominion women's swimming & diving squad meanwhile remains in fifth place following day three action. The Lady Monarchs have compiled 225 points and sit behind first place James Madison with 572 points, Towson with 430 points, UNCW with 338 points, and William & Mary with 325 points.
The evening kicked off with both the men's and women's 200 medley squads picking up NCAA "B" cut times. The Monarch squad of Birkir Jonsson (Keflavik, Iceland), Arni Arnason, Andrew Crockett, (Toano, Va.) Sidni Hoxha (Tirane, Albania) raced to a new ODU record with a time of 1:29.33 to place second. The Lady Monarch relay team of Kimberley Rashleigh (Sydney, Australia), Erla Haraldsdottir (Njardvik, Iceland), Ashley Luchsinger (Va Beach, Va.), and Emma Forbes (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) took fourth with their NCAA "B" cut time of 1:42.60 .
The NCAA "B" cut times continued in the 400 individual medley. Junior Kimberley Rashleigh, swimming in back-to-back events, hit the wall in a time of 4:17.20 for a second place finish and NCAA "B" cut. Fellow Lady Monarch Laura Cempel (Mokena, Ill.) competed in the consolation finals of the event taking 11th with a time of 4:26.70.
On the men's side, a pair of Monarchs reached the finals of the 400 individual medley. Jason Brame (Lynchburg, Va.) registered a fourth place time of 3:57.83, while Ryan Telep (Chandler, Ariz.) clocked in at 4:03.38 for seventh place. Dogus Akay (Izmir, Turkaey) raced in the consolation finals to take 11th with a time of 4:04.57.
Two Lady Monarchs saw their names move up in the record books in the 100 butter fly in the event's consolation finals. Ashley Luchsinger swam the third fastest time in the ODU record book with a time of 56.07. Madeline Stiles (Fairfax, Va.) placed 16th with a consolation final time of 56.83. Her prelim time of 56.28, however, moved her into fourth all-time on the 100 butterfly times list.
In the 100 butterfly for the men, Andrew Crockett reached the finals and finished in fourth place. His time of 49.21 moved his name to second all-time in the event in the Monarch record book. Additionally, Birkir Jonnson took 12th in the consolation finals finishing in a time of 50.29. He captured his best time ever in the 100 butterfly of 49.86 earlier in the day in the prelims.
Three Monarchs swam on Friday evening in the 200 freestyle. Daniel Camozzo (Herndon, Va.) logged a time of 1:38.95 for a fifth place finish, while Sidni Hoxha, who captured the 50 freestyle title on Thursday, recorded an eighth place finish in a time of 1:40.16. Carter Waston (Forest, Va.) took 15th in the consolation finals logging a time of 1:41.49.
Two Lady Monarchs appeared in the 200 freestyle consolation finals. Emma Forbes captured the second fastest time by a Lady Monarch in the event capturing a 10th place time of 1:51.08. Savannah Bowers (Va. Beach, Va.) clocked in with a time of 1:52.62 for a 13th place finish. Her prelim time of 1:52.25 puts her name sixth on the all-time freestyle leaders list.
In the 100 breaststroke, along with Arnaon's first place finish, Jason Haigh (Williamsburg, Va.) competed in the event's finals taking third place. His time of 55.80 was not only his best finish to-date in the 100 breaststroke, put also moves his name into third in the Monarch records. In the consolation finals, Jobin Bahmanipour (San Diego, Calif.) swam to a 12th place finish with a time of 57.76 and Edward Hubert (Newport News, Va.) was right behind his teammate in 13th with a time of 58.13.
Erla Haraldsdottir recorded her third NCAA "B" cut time of the championships in the 100 breaststroke. With a time of 1:01.86, Harladsdottir took fourth in the event. She was a member of the 200 medley relay that posted an NCAA "B" cut time earlier in the championship on Friday, while on Thursday evening, she had captured a B cut time in the 200 individual medley.
Andrew Crockett, swimming in his third event of the night, was one of two Monarchs in the consolation finals of the 100 backstroke. Crocket hit the wall in a time of 50.97 for a 12th place finish, while teammate Birkir Jonnson recorded a time of 52.25 for 16th place.
Diving concluded on Thursday for the women. Kelsey Thompson scored a 210.20 on the 1 meter to take 15th.
In the day's final event, the 800 freestyle relay, the ODU women captured the top time ever in the event. The team of Kimberley Rashleigh, Yesim Giresunlu Maddie Stiles, and Savannah Bowers registered of time of 7:30.86, besting the previous ODU record by .56 seconds.
For the men, the Monarchs relay team of Daniel Camozzo, Jason Brame, Carter Watson, and Bernardo Figuredo came in fourth overall with a time of 6:47.37.
Action at the 2012 CAA Championships wrap up on Saturday with the 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, men's 3 meter diving, and 400 freestyle relay. Live stats are available here while live video of the of the finals as well as the awards ceremony following the final event on Saturday will be available at GoMason.com.
Women - Team Rankings - Through Friday
1. James Madison University - 572
2. Towson University Swimming - 430
3. University of North Carolina W - 338
4. William and Mary - 325
5. Old Dominion University - 225
6. Northeastern University - 203
7. George Mason University - 190
8. Delaware - 174
9. Drexel University - 109
Men - Team Rankings - Through Friday
1. University of North Carolina W - 456
2. George Mason University - 408
3. William and Mary - 382
4. Old Dominion University - 364
5. Delaware - 247
6. Drexel University - 200
7. Towson University Swimming - 160