Nicholson claims national title in 400 IM; Ephs move up to 4th at NCAAs

OXFORD, OH. -- Williams College junior Amanda Nicholson set a new NCAA record en route to winning a national championship in the 400 IM Friday, helping the Ephs move into fourth place overall after the second day of competition at the 2008 Div. III Swimming & Diving Championships being held at the Nixon Aquatic Center on the campus of Miami of Ohio University.

Nicholoson's national title highlighted a big day in the pool for Williams, which moved into sole possession of fourth place with 193.5 points, 3.5 points ahead of fifth-place Emory University and 46.5 points behind third place Denison.

"It was just a great day," Ephs head coach Steve Kuster said. "We were very good in the morning and carried it over into the night session. It was moving day and we moved, but so did Emory. We want to come out tomorrow and finish off this meet strong."

Nicholson had the biggest highlight by winning a 400 IM final that featured the top four swimmers all besting the previous NCAA record. Nicholson trailed after the first laps of the butterfly, but  gradually crept back into the race. With 25 yards to go, she was a 1/4 length behind the leader, but had an incredibly fast finish to win the title in 4:20.31.

"It was an unbelievable race," Kuster said. "Every aspect of it was really, really good. With a half a lap to go she just put her head down and said, "not today," and had a phenomenal finish. To win this race, with four times besting the previous record, that's amazing."

The 400 IM wasn't just the Nicholson show. First-year Eph Ellen Ramsey and senior Crissy Haley both swam their way into the finals along with their teammate. Ramsey's time of 4:26.59 was good for fifth place, and Haley placed eighth with a time of 4:32.23.

"We've never had three swimmers finish in the top eight of the same event at nationals before," Kuster said. "That was also amazing. Ellen Ramsey just keeps swimming faster and faster."

The Ephs also had two strong performances from their relay teams Friday. The 200 medley relay of Nicholson, Nancy McInerney, Courtney Asher and Olivia Card-Childers raced to a third-place finish with a time of 1:46.91. The 800 free relay with first year Ryan McChesney, Christina Metcalf, Sophia Sequeira and Ramsey placed sixth with a time of 7:38.90.

In the 100 breaststroke, Asher, a junior, placed 16th with a time of 1:06.79. In the 100 butterfly,  sophomore Lisa Cucolo swam to a 15th-place finish in a time of 58.87seconds, while McInerney took eighth with a time of 57.64.

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