Wingate Strengthens Hold of Top Spot at SAC Swimming Championships

REENSBORO, N.C. - The Wingate Bulldogs continue to lead both the men's and women's results after the fourth day of competition in the South Atlantic Conference Swimming Championship. Day four held nine events, which saw 31 D2B cut times. 

In the women's 500 Yard Freestyle, Catawba's Ella Gutenwik captured first (4:57.69 D2B), followed by teammates Fiona Byrne (4:59.23 D2B) and Danielle Meinema (4:59.29 D2B). In total, five D2B cut times were recorded by SAC swimmers in the event. 

The men's 500 Yard Freestyle was won by Catawba's freshman Nazar Herashchenko who broke the meet record with a time of 4:23.27 to win gold. Following him was Wingate's Fernando Dehaudt, touching in a time of 4:23.45 (D2B) and the Bulldogs' Damir Ipkaev took bronze with a D2B time of 4:28,57. The previous meet record was held by Miguel Marcos Bargueno of Wingate with a time of 4:25.66 which stood since 2023. 

Wingate swept the medal stand in the Women's 100 Yard Breaststroke as the trio all achieved D2B cut times. Marta Beesmans won gold with a time of 54.89 which broke the meet record by .01 seconds. Elizabete Paula Ozola was second with a time of 55.48 and Vera Karlsson was third with a time of 55.81.  

In the Men's 100 Yard Backstroke, Wingate's Ney Chagas Filho earned gold, touching in 48.69 seconds, edging out Carson-Newman's Will Humphrey (48.78). Wingate's Anton Witzell was third (48.83)

Another meet record was broken in the Women's 100 Yard Breaststroke as Natalia Dwojak finished in 1:01.22, topping her own mark from prelims of 1:01.73. Sydney McKenzie of Catawba was second (1:02.36 D2B) and Wingate's Cornelia Almqvist was third (1:03.12 D2B)

Catawba's Maks Minishowski won the men's 100 Yard Breaststroke with a D2B time of 53.47. Asger Hartvig of Carson-Newman was second (53.60 D2B) and Andres Martijena of Wingate took third (53.72 D2B). 

Carson-Newman claimed gold in the 200 Yard Butterfly as Megan Corcoran broke the meet record and posted a D2B cut time of 1:59.33. 

Alex Smyre of Wingate won the 200 Yard Butterfly on the men's side (1:47.85 D2B).

The event concluded with the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay with Catawba earning gold on the women's side with a meet record and D2B cut time of 1:32.69 while Wingate broke the meet record on the men's side to claim gold, touching in 1:20.20.  

Results at the conclusion of the day can be found below. Day five begins tomorrow with prelims at 10:00 AM and finals at 5:00 PM. 

Women – Team Rankings – Through Event 28 

1. Wingate University 1389 

2. Catawba College 1308

3. Carson-Newman University 901 

4. Mars Hill University 442

5. Lenoir-Rhyne University 418 

6. Emory & Henry University 348 

Men – Team Rankings – Through Event 28 

1. Wingate University 1303.5

2. Catawba College 1117.5 

3. Carson-Newman University 1004 

4. Lenoir-Rhyne University 523

5. Mars Hill University 484

6. Emory & Henry University 279