Cory records remarkable 50 free split, Somridhivej wins NESCAC title in 100 breast

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- Junior Max Cory swam a 50-yard freestyle split for the history books, and junior Marrich Somridhivej took home the conference title in the 100-yard breaststroke, highlighting the third day of the NESCAC Championships Saturday for Bates men's swimming and diving.

The Bobcats have accumulated a total of 691.5 points with one day remaining, good for sixth place out of 11 schools, well within range of Connecticut College (699 points) and host Middlebury (721 points).

Saturday Highlights

Cory (Dublin, Calif.) anchored the Bates 200-yard medley relay, and recorded a split of 18.59 seconds, which is believed to be the fastest 50-free split in NCAA Division III history. Official records of relay splits are only kept if the swimmer is leading off the relay, as those who follow get a chance to time their start, as opposed to reacting to the starter. The Bobcats took second place overall in the event, with sophomore Tim Johnson (Brewster, Mass.), Somridhivej (South Windsor, Conn.), sophomore John Weigel (Iowa City, Iowa), and Cory combining for an NCAA 'B' Cut time of 1:27.24, setting a new Bates record along the way. Tufts, which won the race, set a new NESCAC record with their time of 1:26.82.
Somridhivej won the NESCAC title in the 100-yard breaststroke, setting a pool and school record with his prelims time of 54.09, and taking first in the championship final in an NCAA 'B' Cut time of 54.14 seconds. Junior Kailer Tom (Daly City, Calif.) was fifth in the consolation final in 55.90 seconds and sophomore Noah Katz (Hallowell, Maine) took fifth in the preconsolation final in 57.13 seconds after recording a prelims time of 57.05 seconds.
Johnson earned All-NESCAC honors in the 100-yard backstroke, placing second in the championship final with an NCAA 'B' Cut time of 48.67 seconds. First-year Zach White (Santa Barbara, Calif.) was fifth in the preconsolation final in 52.77 seconds, after recording a prelims time of 52.27 seconds. Junior Kyle Beebe (Chatham, N.J.) placed eighth in 53.29 seconds, with a prelims time of 52.57 seconds.
Weigel earned All-NESCAC honors in the 200-yard freestyle, taking third place in the championship final with an NCAA 'B' Cut time of 1:39.06.
Cory tied for seventh in the championship final of the 100-yard butterfly in 49.09 seconds, after recording a prelims time of 48.77 seconds. Meanwhile, junior Trent Hieber (Granby, Conn.) tied for fourth in the preconsolation final with a time of 51 seconds, after recording a prelims mark of 50.49 seconds.
First-year Nate Oppenheim (Easton, Conn.) finished seventh in the championship final of the 400-IM in 4:00.44. Senior Jaewoo Kim (San Ramon, Calif.) finished fourth in the preconsolation final in 4:08.29 and junior Matthew Kunkiewicz (Hillsborough, N.J.) placed fifth in 4:09.14.
First-year Anton Kondratyev (Belle Mead, N.J.) placed 15th in the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:40.34.