Trinidad and Tobago swimmers Zachary Anthony and Johann-Matthew Matamoro played key roles Friday night as the University of Indianapolis finished fourth in the Men’s 200-yard freestyle relay on the penultimate day of the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships at the Deaconess Aquatic Center.
Anthony and Matamoro teamed with Jeremias Pock and Elias Noe to clock 1:18.35, winning their heat before settling for fourth overall in the final standings of the event. The performance earned the quartet All-America recognition and capped another productive evening for the Greyhounds.
The night was highlighted by Pock’s continued dominance in the breaststroke events. The German junior captured the Men’s 100-yard breaststroke title in a meet-record 51.59 seconds, finishing just one-hundredth of a second shy of the Division II record he recently established at the GLVC Championships. The victory gave him his third individual national title of the meet.
UIndy also produced several other top-four finishes in individual events. Distance specialist Swann Plaza finished third in the Men’s 500-yard freestyle, matching his earlier podium finish in the 1000 free. On the Women’s side, Celina Schmidt shared third place in the 100 breaststroke, securing her team-leading sixth All-America honour of the championships. Freshman diver Donovan McMahon also impressed, placing fourth in the Men’s three-metre diving event in his national championship debut.
Another freshman, Valentina Masella, added to her growing list of accolades by finishing eighth in the Women’s 100 backstroke in 54.92 seconds, shaving three-hundredths off her personal best to earn First-Team All-America status.
The relay events once again provided an exciting close to the evening’s programme. The UIndy Women’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of Kirabo Namutebi, Addisyn Newman, Jasmin Hoffmann and Caroline Reinke captured silver in 1:30.43, missing the school record by just a tenth of a second.
Heading into yesterday’s final day, the Men’s team standings remained tightly contested. Drury University lead the Men’s competition with 384 points, followed closely by University of Tampa on 381.5.
Colorado Mesa University sit third with 330 points, while UIndy are just six points back in fourth on 324. McKendree University occupy fifth place with 198.5 points, and Lynn University are sixth with 193.
In the Women’s standings, Nova Southeastern University lead with 374 points,.ahead of Tampa on 308.5. Colorado Mesa are third with 224.5 points, followed by Drury on 229, while UIndy hold fifth place with 220.5 points and University of West Florida sit sixth on 211.5.
With one day remaining at the championships, Anthony and Matamoro’s relay contribution helped keep the Greyhounds firmly in the hunt.
Alejandro Redner
Read More