OXFORD, Ohio— Denison University leads the 2016 Miami Invitational after the first day of competition. The Big Red racked up 295.5 points on Thursday night and lead second-place Emory by 41 points. Washington-St. Louis is third at 204.5 while Indiana checks in fourth at 173.
Denison senior and 2015 NCAA Division III Swimmer of the Year Jack Lindell placed second in the 200 individual medley with a season-best NCAA 'B' cut time of 1:48.66. The winner of the event was Emory's Andrew Wilson who broke his own national record in the event with a time of 1:45.57. Denison's Jake Ball finished eighth in the A-Final in 1:52.26 while Ryan Stevenson won the B-Final in 1:51.13 which was good enough for a 'B' cut. Timmy Smith rounded out the top finishers in the event with an 18th place showing in 1:54.14.
Six Denison swimmers finished in the top-18 in the 50 freestyle, led by Kenny Fox and his runner-up 'B' cut time of 20.54. Eric Gerlach logged a 20.68 in prelims and returned in 20.71 in the finals to place fourth. In the B-Final, Victor Lowe placed 12th in 20.98. Matt McHugh (14th – 21.05), Jason Wesseling (16th - 21.15) and Andrew Delahunty (18th – 21.22) rounded out the event.
Denison's depth in the distance freestyle events was on full display in the 500 freestyle where eight DU swimmers placed in the top-18. Stuart Hohm led the field with a sixth-place finish in 4:30.02. In morning prelims, Hohm notched a season-best 'B' cut time of 4:28.04. Walt Dauksher followed in seventh place in 4:31.03 which marked his best time of the season thus far. It was also a NCAA provisional time. The B-Final was dominated by the Big Red as they occupied six of the eight spots in the standings. Ben Burdick led with a 12th place finish in 4:34.49. James Baker was 13th in 4:34.96 and Francis Biagioli placed 14th in 4:35.38. Kevin Benson (15th – 4:35.49), Matt Hedman (16th – 4:35.95) and Aaron Saccurato (18th – 4:40.49).
In the 200 free relay to open the night, Denison's Kyiami Senior, Delahunty, Fox and Gerlach touched third in 1:22.57. The 400 medley relay team of Wesseling, Smith, Fox and Gerlach closed out the night with a fourth-place time of 3:18.97.
Denison will return to the pool on Friday for preliminaries at 10 a.m. Finals will commence at 6 p.m.
