BUFFALO, NY - It was another record-breaking performance for the Jamestown Community College (JCC) swimming and diving teams on day two of the Region 3 championships at Erie Community College. This time it was sophomore Kyle Dean doing the damage in the 50 back with a new program, meet, and regional record with a time of 23.99 in his winning swim. Dean was also part of two relay teams that set program records. The 200 free team of Dean, Zach Johnson, Christian Merrill, and Cameron Milewski swam a 1:31:71 to claim the top Jayhawk time ever, second place in the event; then that same group clocked a 3:53:88 in the 400 medley for a new program mark and another win. Milewski also took down the JCC top spot in the 3-meter dive with a score of 197.25. In session two, Johnson continued the heroics in the 100 breast, swimming a JCC record 1:00:87 for the program record and the win. Dean finished off the night with another record in the 100 back at 51:82 and a victory. Last, but not least, the quartet took down another JCC spot in the 200 medley relay, swimming a program-best 1:43:06 and earning yet another first place.
"Obviously, when you have a record-breaking performance to this degree, it gives credit to the men's team and the training they went through. They are swimming with a lot of confidence, and it continues to grow with each event," said an elated head coach, Todd Conklin.
Sticking with the gentlemen, Noah Miles claimed a third in the 100 fly. The 100 IM was won by Johnson, edging out second place by two tenths of a second. Miles came back in the 500 free to clock a fourth-place time. Dean once again paced the race in the 100 back, winning by over ten seconds. Fellow Jayhawk Merrill earned a third-place finish. Randall Hall also put up a personal best in the 100 breast with a 1:23:39.
Over on the ladies' side, the 200 free relay team of Anna Jones, Desiree Putt, Jalyn Linton, and Emily Swan took down the competition by almost ten seconds. Putt continued her dominance in the 50 back with an impressive 29.86. It was a first and third finish in the 400 individual medley for Jones and Haleigha Hardy, respectively. Linton found herself on the podium again in the 100 fly, coming in third overall. Another gold was claimed by Emily Swan in the 200 free; she outclassed her opponents by almost four seconds. Teammate Addison Lawson finished fourth. To end the early session on day two in the swimming pool, JCC's squad of Jones, Putt, Hardy, and Emily Swan won the 400 medley relay by over 16 seconds. Flipping back to the diving well, Ashlynn Swan scored a 225.25, nearly 70 points more than second place. Those same ladies also captured the 200 medley relay by a dominating ten seconds.
"We may not have broken any records, but they are swimming tremendous races. I don't think one individual didn't have a best swim. Just like the guys, our confidence is starting to show. They are starting to grow together," added Conklin about his defending national champion women's team.
In session two for the women, Emily Swan snagged another silver in the 100 IM. The 500 free saw JCC take third, fourth, and fifth with the order going Jones, Sophia Gervasio, and Addison Lawson. Putt shaved almost a second off of her personal best in the 100 back, swimming a 1:03:73. Hardy earned another top-three finish in the 100 breast with her 1:22:58 clocking third.
"Overall, the coaching staff couldn't be any happier with the results of the first three sessions. Coming in, we had high expectations for some fantastic swims. If this is a sign of what is to come, this team will have a great showing in the national meet," said Conklin.
After three sessions, Jamestown's women continue to hold the top spot in the standings, while the men currently sit in second.
The Region 3 championships conclude on Sunday morning at 10:00 AM back at the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center.
