Righi Blasts Field/Records in 100 Free

The title a year ago was “All Hail Righi! 43.19 in the 100 Free”…

And it may as well be the same title again this year. Except we’ll take some time off of that title.

“All Hail Righi! 42.67 in the 100 Free”

The Yale junior did it again… and all of the records are his to own. After dropping his own Meet and EISL records established a year ago, Righi also forcefully removed the Blodgett Pool record held by now swimming analyst and former Olympian, Rowdy Gaines. Gaines established the mark in 1980 when he swam at Auburn.

Employing the vicious opening take-off, Righi came out of the water nearly 20 yards down the pool — and he just churned out the yards and increased his distance over the competition. His closest competitor — Harvard’s David Guernsey — finished in 44.06.

Diekema Reels In 200 Backstroke Title

With the defending champion not participating in the race in 2008, and the second-team All-Ivy selection from a year ago qualifying fourth in preliminaries, the 200 Back title was certainly a race that prognosticators dread trying to handicap.

Especially when the championship field has three relatively unknown freshman entrants.

But those types of conditions make for awesome drama. Especially when one of those freshman overcomes a lead in the last 25 yards and tracks down the experienced entrant from a year ago for the win.

Which is exactly what happened in the 2008 version, when Harvard’s Jordan Diekema reeled in Cornell’s Phil Baity (the aforementioned 2007 second-team All-Ivy) after the junior came out of the water on the final sprint with a seemingly comfortable lead. That is, until, Diekema found the fast water and slingshot into the lead to take the championship at the wall.

Diekema’s time was 1:46.56.

Crimson 1-2-3 in 1650

It was just like any other practice. Only this time it meant that Harvard would further extend its lead over the rest of the competition.

And now the championship might be mathematical certainty — even with the night still being young.

And for 52 laps, it was just like a leisurely swim between three friends. But then the competitive juices began to flow.

If for nothing else, bragging rights amongst teammates.

That was when Harvard’s Eric Lynch issued the challenge to teammates Sam Wollner and Alex Meyer: “Either stay with me or settle for second and third, respectively.”

And try as they might, Meyer was left behind and Wollner (who outkicked Lynch last year) just did not have enough left to challenge the junior from San Jose, Calif.

Lynch finished the race at 15:09.65, which was almost a full 14 seconds ahead of the competition that did not train in Cambridge on a regular basis.

Wollner took second place in a time of 15:11.48, and Meyer was third at 15:14.62.

The Final Showdown

It all comes down to this… the final showdown.

And that means - time for some fun.

Welcome to the third and final night of the EISL Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Blodgett Pool on the campus of Harvard University.

Although the current standings appear to be favoring the home Crimson for the overall title - stranger things have definitely happened. Also, there are still plenty of surprises left in the competition:

1. A new champion in the 200 Back
2. A potential shot at another Meet and EISL Record in the 200 Fly
3. The determination of the Moriarty (High-Point Scorer), Michael (High-Point Diver) and Ulen (High-Point Career) Trophies.
4. The opportunity for a Back-2-Back champion in the 3M Diving competition

So bring your ‘A’ game tonight because there is still plenty to be decided.

And bust out that ‘Crane Kick’ if you’ve got it… the referees are being very lenient with that this year.

Kicking It Old School

Just a fun little trip down memory lane with the Meet (1:43.17) and EISL (1:41.83) record-holder in the 200 Backstroke — and event contested tonight — Harvard’s David Cromwell.

Even though Cromwell went on to lower the mark to its current level in 2006, the video above is his record-breaking performance at the 2004 EISL Championships at DeNunzio Pool with a time of 1:44.02.

Princeton’s Lennox Takes Record in Prelim

Princeton’s Doug Lennox set up a nice little storyline for himself tonight by doing a rare feat in the preliminary rounds of the 200y Butterfly.

En route to the #1 seed in the finals, Lennox rewrote the Meet and EISL record books with a 1:45.14.

The existing records were previously both held by Carl Hessler of Princeton — who took the EISL record in 2001 with a swim of 1:45.22 and the Meet record in 2003 at 1:45.22.

Doug — your mission, should you choose to accept it is to post a 1:44.42 to own all of the Meet, EISL and Pool records at the same time.

Good luck tonight!

Final Day/Night of ‘Blog It’ From Blodgett

Howdy bloggeroos!

Greetings and salutations… As many of you know - today marks the final day of the 2008 Blog-a-thon…

*tear*

But don’t fret little flowers - today will be chock full of action packed fun. And your trusty EISL blog “rock star” (not self-proclaimed… proclaimed by a few of the parentals here at the pool) will be here all day bringing you the action.

Easterns: Part Deux

Here’s the second night video recap! And don’t hate on us… it isn’t our fault that wetube better than youtube.

Hello (hello, hello)… Is There Anybody In There?

Just nod if you can hear me… Say hello, EISL peeps!

Great News! Our friends from Wisconsin that had air travel troubles have just shown up at Blodgett. I know this because they just came to say hello to me in the stands. Ahh yes, the power of the U.S. map.

What I have learned thus far (I heart education):

1. “Super Dog” is a big fan.
2. Bucks County, Pa. is laying claim to the 657th best county in the U.S. (no argument here!)
3. The Legend of Randy Sprout (1986 finals)

States - Town/Cities checking in (updates will take place after tonight’s program)

Alabama - Tuscaloosa, Hoover
Arizona - Phoenix
Colorado - Boulder
Connecticut - New Haven. Kensington
D.C. - D.C.
Illinois - Chicago
Jersey! - Hackensack, Princeton
Kansas - Manhattan (When a guy named “Super Dog” checks in - you have officially arrived)
Louisiana - Lafayette
Maryland - Bethesda, Kensington
Massachusetts - Boston, Amherst, Cambridge, Westfield
Missouri - Lone Jack
New Hampshire - Hanover
New York - West Point, Buffalo, Ithaca, Syracuse
North Carolina - Charlotte
Ohio - Cincinnati
Pennsylvania - Kennett Square (were you aware that KS is the “Mushroom Capital of the World”? I totally knew.*), Bucks County
Tennessee - Nashville, Knoxville, Jackson
Virginia - Richmond, Roanoke, Arlington
Washington - Redmond
Wisconsin - Milwaukee

International -
HONG KONG - Greetings to Cornell alum Dave McKechnie [who is currently getting paid to watch us from his office (half a world away)]. For those that don’t know Dave (shame on you!)… he was one of the usual suspects in the 2006-07 EISL blog. Thanks for checking in!
COSTA RICA - San Jose
OH CANADA! - (our home and native land… of amazing skiing) Whistler, British Columbia

If you would like to participate… please comment in the box provided and let me know where you are checking in from. And we love Internationals too! So no matter where you are in the world, let us know!

*Langhorne, Pa. is regarded as the 657th^ “Coolest place on the planet” to live.)

^May be a completely fabricated statistic by the author of the blog.

Day Two Finishes

Scores are up! And I’m going to get food.

See ya manana.