McCabe Posts NCAA Automatic Qualifier

LANCASTER, Pa. -- Brittany McCabe completed a four-year run on the Centennial Conference's 100-yard backstroke championship in style, posting an NCAA Division III National Championship automatic qualifying mark of 57.36. The Diplomats actually lost ground on the race as their 2.5 lead was eclipsed by the four Gettysburg Bullets in the same final. Gettysburg's Emilie Youmans took silver with a B-Cut time, helping the Bullets get back out in front by 22.5 points.

Gettysburg holds a 33.5 point lead on the Diplomats heading into the final day of the championships. Washington College is in third place, followed by Swarthmore.

"I am really proud of the position both teams have put themselves in at this point in the meet," said Diplomats' mentor, Bob Rueppel.

His women's team has already scored more points this year through two days than they did in last year's entire championship.

The Diplomats overtook Gettysburg for first place with a second place finish in the night's first race, the 200-yard medley relay. McCabe, Samantha Sweeney, Jennie Payne and Katherine DeCrosta combined for a 1:51.43, for a silver medal. Washington earned gold with a 1:49.64, while Gettysburg earned bronze with a 1:51.79.

Gettysburg's Keira Heath defended her championship in the 400-yard Individual Medley, but F&M's Laura Bassford mitigated the damage, collecting silver with a 4:47.17. Heath posted a B-Cut time of 4:34.77. Claire Mansbach claimed bronze for F&M with a 4:48.73.

Meghan Karanian picked up the bronze medal in the 200-yard freestyle, but the Bullets swept fourth through sixth place to cut the Diplomats lead down to 2.5 points heading into the 100-yard backstroke. Karanian, Garland Bartlett, Kim Greenfield and Olivia Hill closed the night with a silver medal in the 800-yard freestyle relay. The F&M foursome clocked a 7:58.24, touching after Gettysburg's 7:55.36.

F&M will look to close the gap during Sunday's final sessions. Preliminaries get underway at 10 a.m., with the finals set for a 6:00 p.m. start.

Saturday Medals

Garland Bartlett

Silver - 800 Free Relay

Laura Bassford

Silver - 400 I.M.

Katherine DeCrosta

Silver - 200 Medley Relay

Kim Greenfield

Silver - 800 Free Relay

Meghan Karanian

Silver - 800 Free Relay

Bronze - 200 Freestyle

Claire Mansbach

Bronze - 400 I.M.

Brittany McCabe

Gold - 100 Backstroke

Silver - 200 Medley Relay

Jennie Payne

Silver - 200 Medley Relay

Samantha Sweeney

Silver - 200 Medley Relay

Cumulative Medal Count

Garland Bartlett

Silver - 800 Free Relay

Laura Bassford

Silver - 400 I.M.

Bronze - 200 I.M., 400 Medley Relay

Katherine DeCrosta

Silver - 200 I.M.,  200 Medley Relay

Bronze - 200 Free Relay

Kim Greenfield

Silver - 800 Free Relay

Olivia Hill

Silver - 800 Free Relay

Bronze - 500 Free

Meghan Karanian

Silver - 800 Free Relay

Bronze - 200 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle

Claire Mansbach

Bronze - 400 I.M.

Brittany McCabe

Gold - 100 Backstroke

Silver - 200 Medley Relay

Bronze - 200 Free Relay, 50 Free, 400 Medley Relay

Jennie Payne
Silver - 200 Medley Relay

Bronze - 200 Free Relay

Samantha Sweeney

Silver - 200 Medley Relay

Bronze - 400 Medley Relay