The Emory University men's swimming & diving team took control of the Division III National Championships with a dominating all-around performance on Thursday. The Eagles moved from third place into a sizable first place lead following a night that featured one national champion, one national runner-up finish and two more podium efforts.
After sitting in third with 74 points on Wednesday, the Eagles sent eight individuals and two relays into the championship and consolation finals on day two and now stand with a 37-point advantage over second-place Kenyon. UAA-foes Chicago and NYU stand third and fourth with 167 and 164 points, respectively, behind Emory's 214.
Junior Crow Thorsen headlined the Eagles on night two as he secured the team's second national championship of the meet. Thorsen became the second swimmer in the Emory men's team history to win the 400 IM with his winning time of 3:51.84 and now has two podium finishes in consecutive days.
Senior Ryan Soh collected his first individual All-America honor this season after being part of the Eagles' national championship in the 200 medley Relay on Wednesday. Soh took fifth in the 100 Fly at 47.64.
In addition to Thorsen and Soh, the Eagles posted a pair of top-three finishes in Thursday's relay events. In a blistering race to end the evening, the group of Soh, senior Jake Meyer, junior Jeff Echols and senior Nicholas Goudie went under the previous Division III national record and finished as the national runner-up behind Kenyon. The Owls won the event at 3:09.78 while the Eagles crew came in at 3:10.40. The night opened with Goudie and Meyer teaming with junior Dylan Yin and sophomore Caden Bjornstad for bronze in the 200 Freestyle Relay, clocking in at 1:19.52.
To go along with the podium finishes, the Eagles earned valuable points with key consolation finishes, including three B Final wins from freshman McKee Thorsen in the 400 IM (3:53.85), Echols in the 100 Fly (47.97) and Goudie in the 200 Freestyle (1:37.94).
Rounding out the top night two efforts came from the 200 Freestyle with senior Harrison Pire placing 11th at 1:38.26, freshman Hayden Tupper taking 13th at 1:38.50 and junior Alexander Pollack touching 14th at 1:38.54.
The NCAA Championships continue on Friday with the 200 Fly, 100 Backstroke, 100 Breaststroke and the 800 Freestyle Relay.