Sophomore Elijah Sanders set the Wabash and natatorium in the 1000 free. The record-setting performance was not enough to lift Wabash past Washington University - St. Louis in Saturday's dual meet. Wash. U. defeated the Little Giants 172-126.
Sanders made his record swim early in the meet, finishing the 1000 in 9:51.07 to snap the school record of 9:55.93 set by Nick Collins in 2000. Sanders' time shattered the Class of Natatorium top time of 9:58.46 in that event. The winning effort pulled Wabash to within two points of the Battling Bears after Wash. U took first and third in the opening relay. (View photos from the meet.)
All-American sophomore Adam Petro won the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:58.87 pulling Wabash closer in the team scored after the Bears posted wins in the next six swimming events. His win was the only other individual victory in the water for the Little Giants in the meet.
The Wabash divers enjoyed a solid effort. Freshman Cole Hatcher won the one-meter competition with a score of 211.70, narrowly beating teammate Rob Fenoglio (210.15). Hatcher made it a clean sweep with a victory on the three-meter board, scoring 209.55 points. Fenoglio was second with a score of 201.90.
Sanders added a second-place finish in the 500, just getting outtouched by the Bears' Brian Kushner. Kushner touched in 4:49.05, while Sanders was second at 4:49.17. Eric Vaughan and Peter Hewitt were second and third, respectively, in the 100 backstroke. Vaughan finished in 55.30, while Hewitt completed the circuit in 56.62.
Robert Fozkos took second in the 50 free (22.47). Jordon Blackwell was second in the 100 free (48.15).
The Little Giants will compete at DePauw University in a 7 p.m. dual meet on January 25.