Sophomore Oliver Smith had a terrific NCAA Championship meet for the Eagles. Smith won the 50 Freestyle National Championship on Wednesday with a school record time of 19.55 before swimming the anchor leg in Emory's two relay national titles; the 200 and 400 Freestyle Relays. He added All-America honors in the 100 Freestyle on Saturday, setting a new school record in the event with a time of 44.43 during preliminaries and as part of the 200 Medley Relay which placed third, touching at 1:28.98. And on a Sunday, Smith made the Olympic Team trials cut in the 50 Free, swimming a long-course time of 23.29.
Sophomore Chandler Lichtefeld led the Emory men's swimming & diving team at the UAA Championships as the Eagles won their 18th straight conference title. Lichtefeld had two event championships in the 200 IM (1:50.42) and 400 IM (3:58.37). He added a fourth place finish in the 200 Back (2:04.57) and swam the anchor leg of Emory's 10th place 400 Medley Relay Team.
Junior Christian Baker had a solid weekend for the Eagles in dual meets against Sewanee and Georgia Tech. Against Sewanee, Baker took first in the 100 Fly (50.19) and swam the second leg of the winning 400 Free Relay team, which finished with a time of 3:08.10. The next day, Baker had a pair of second place finishes in the 200 Free (1:42.11) and 500 Free (4:37.75).
Sophomore Oliver Smith continued his recent stretch of dominance in the 50 Free against Div. II Delta State on Saturday afternoon, claiming his third straight victory in the event with an NCAA qualifying time of 20.66. Smith has not lost a 50 Free event to a non-DI opponent this season. Smith added a fourth place showing in the 100 Free at 47.71 and swam the final leg in both of Emory's relay events. The 200 Free Relay took first with an NCAA qualifying time of 1:23.05 while the 200 Medley quartet placed second at 1:32.74.
Cooper took part in three events for the Eagles against Div. II Florida Southern on Friday evening, taking first in the 200 IM with a time of 1:53.77 and added a pair of second place finishes in the 100 Backstroke (50.33) and 200 Backstroke (1:54.00). His 100 Back time represented the lone NCAA "B" Cut time for Emory (men or women) at the meet.
Junior Christian Baker had an outstanding weekend for the Eagles at the Miami Invitational, recording six NCAA qualifying times (four individual, two relays). He had three first place finishes in the 500 Free (4:23.95), 200 Free (1:37.99) and 1,650 Free (15:20.79), all three times becoming new Division III leading marks. His 1,650 Free time broke the school record, smashing the previous mark by over seven seconds. He was part of the 200 Medley Relay which took first with a time of 1:29.58 and was part of the 400 Medley Relay which finished second at 3:17.91. Baker added a fifth place finish in the 200 Fly finals and recorded a time of 1:49.18 which was second fastest during prelims.
Junior swimmer Mitchell Cooper turned in an impressive performance during Emory's meet against the University of Georgia last Friday. He posted two NCAA "B" Cut times in third place showings in the 100 Back (50.55) and 200 Back (1:50.90). Mitchell added a first place showing in the 200 IM with a time of 1:53.40. All three times were season bests for the junior as well as new nation leading times.
Baker placed first in the two individual events he swam in, helping Emory to a win over BSC. He clocked in with a time of 1:41.39 in the 200 Free and a time of 4:36.79 in the 500 Free. Baker also swam the first leg of the first place 800 Free Relay team which posted a time of 6:57.76.
Mitchell had a solid showing in Emory's dual meet against Penn State on Saturday. Cooper placed in the top 3 in all three individual events he swam in including a first place win in the 400 IM (4:06.08). He was second in the 100 Back (50.73) and was third in 200 Back (1:53.33). His times in the 400 IM and 100 Back were fast enough to qualify for NCAA "B" Cut. Cooper added a third place finish as part of the 200 Medley relay (1:34.64) swimming the first leg of the event.
Oliver Smith
March 21, 2016Sophomore Oliver Smith had a terrific NCAA Championship meet for the Eagles. Smith won the 50 Freestyle National Championship on Wednesday with a school record time of 19.55 before swimming the anchor leg in Emory's two relay national titles; the 200 and 400 Freestyle Relays. He added All-America honors in the 100 Freestyle on Saturday, setting a new school record in the event with a time of 44.43 during preliminaries and as part of the 200 Medley Relay which placed third, touching at 1:28.98. And on a Sunday, Smith made the Olympic Team trials cut in the 50 Free, swimming a long-course time of 23.29.
