ATHENS, Ga.- Nathan Lile and Tyler Gomez finished 1-2 in the 100 fly, and London Schumacher, Charity Byrum, and Lile all achieved NCAA "B" cuts, to highlight the Gardner-Webb swim teams performances, on day three of the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Championships held at Gabrielson Natatorium on the campus of the University of Georgia.
At the conclusion of day three of the four-day CCSA Championships, the Gardner-Webb men's swim team holds down the third spot with 484 points, while the GWU women's team moved up a spot into fourth place with 675.5 points.
In the first women's event of the evening, the 400 IM, Schumacher gave the GWU crowd reason to cheer, finishing third to garner All-Conference honors and achieved an NCAA "B" cut with a time of 4:18.74. During the morning preliminary events, Schumacher shattered the school-record, as well as set a new meet record with a time of 4:15.96.
"Our women had a tremendous night. The highlight of the day was London obliterating Taylor Simpsons school record, making a NCAA B cut and setting the meet record in the morning," remarked Gardner-Webb head swim coach Mike Simpson. "She ended up 3rd tonight, but breaking a record that the team has tried to break for over 10 years is special."
The highlight of Friday evenings finals for the GWU men's team happened in the 100 fly, where Lile and Gomez sprinted past the field to finish in first and second place respevtively. Lile's time was an NCAA "B" cut, and for the championships has totaled two "B" cuts.
"Today was another tremendous day. We were not quite as special overall, but individually there were some special moments," commented Simpson." "Nathan won the fly and shattered the school record. Tyler Gomez was 2nd behind Nathan. We have never been 1-2 in an individual event!"
Following the men's 100 fly, Giorgie Graves put together four great laps of butterfly to finish in second place with a time of 54.76, and garner All-Conference honors with her swim. Mary O'Doherty also put together a very nice race for GWU, finishing fourth (55.65), narrowly missing a top-three finish and an all-conference honor in the event.
Byrum placed second in the 100 breast, to earn All-Conference honors and achieved an NCAA "B" cut with a time of 1:02.09.
"Giorgie and Charity both getting 2nd was fun to watch. Jenna Ballinger is having a special week," exclaimed Simpson. "I have to give a shout out to CJay Wiley, Jessica Robinson and Kristen Ellison for incredible accomplishments and teaching their team perseverance!"
Following Byrum's all-conference nod in the 100 breast, Connor Bos blasted through the pool to finish first in the 100 back (49.05), and John Baker finished right behind Bos in third place (49.74), to place two GWU swimmers in the top three positions.
"Connor broke his own record and went from 7th last year to conference champion. John Baker had a huge breakthrough 3rd in 100 back to make the podium," said Simpson. "Guys medley relay was all conference and just missed school record."
The GWU men's team finished Friday evening's finals on a high note and gave the Runnin' Bulldogs supporters one last time to cheer, as the quartet of Bos, Brandon Searle, Gomez, and Joe MacGregor each earned an All-Conference nod, with a third place finish (3:20.85).
The CCSA championship meet concludes tomorrow. Preliminary events are scheduled for a 10 am start, and the finals will be contested at 6:00 p.m.
