(Portions of this story courtesy of the Colorado College and the Trinity University websites)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Colorado College's Jordan DeGayner came from behind on the final leg of the 200-yard freestyle to tie Tyler Harp from the University of Redlands for first place at the 2012 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships at the IU Natatorium. RESULTS | CHAMPIONSHIP SITE
DeGayner finished in an SCAC and school-record time of 1:37.51, which was .83 seconds faster than his previous standard of 1:38.34 set last month at the conference championships.
DeGayner, CC's first national champion in a swimming event, covered the final 50 yards in 24.96 seconds to pass Kenyon's Zachary Turk and Denison's Sean Chabot. It was the 28th individual national championship for an SCAC student-athlete, but just the second for a swimmer.
Other highlights from the second day included a pair of Trinity divera, Ruth Hahn and Katie Sheldon, who both earned All-America honors on the one-meter board.
Hahn earned All-America status for the second consecutive season by finishing fifth in this year's competition. Hahn scored 424.35 in the finals, improving her score during prelims by nearly eight full points. Last year, Hahn was 12th on the one-meter board, but third in the three-meter competition.
Sheldon finished 16th in the competition, earning Honorable Mention All-America status in her first shot at the NCAA event.
Trinity junior Spencer Bard was 39th with a time of 51.41 in the 100 butterfly prelims.
DeGayner was joined by CC Tiger teammates Devin Wahl, Matt Nadell and Kevin Dorf to place 22nd in the 200-yard free relay posting a time of 1:26.37.
On the women's side Centre's Clark Weber posted a 1:53.61 in the 200-yard freestyle at prelims to claim 21st in the country, her second top 25 finish at nationals this year.
Weber was joined by Colonel's teammates Colleen Maggard, Holly Oatman and Hadley Judson to finish 20th in the 200-yard free relay event registering a time of 1:37.92.
The 2012 NCAA Championships continue through Saturday.
After the second full day of competition SCAC Director of Communications Russell Kramer had the opportunity to catch up with national champion Jordan DeGayner, CC head coach Anne Goodman James and All-American Ruth Hahn along with TU Tigers diving coach Stan Randall.
To listen to Colorado College senior Jordan DeGayner, click here.
To listen to Colorado College swimming coach Anne Goodman James, click here.
To listen to Trinity University junior Ruth Hahn, click here.
To listen to Trinity University diving coach Stan Randall, click here.
