Women's Swimming and Diving | 1/15/2017 11:14:00 PM
NEWARK, N.J. – In a double dual format, the Howard University swimming programs faced NJIT, Saint Peter's and Drexel in Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) competition on Sunday afternoon.
The men's team had a great showing but came up short to NJIT by a score of 177-82 and fell to Drexel, 170-76. The women's team split the day by dominating Saint Peter's, 190-39, before dropping a 130-109 decision to Drexel.
"This was one of the most energized meets we have had on the road this season," said head coach Nicholas Askew. "We all felt the team competed hard and pushed each other to swim fast."
Don Brazelton, Xavier Philips, TJ Miller and Alexander Barnes placed third in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:40.17 to start the day. By touching the wall in 10:43.27 in the 1,000 freestyle, Mark McCluskey posted the 10th fastest time in Howard history, knocking off former team captain Willie Stewart, Jr. out of the spot he held since 2000.
Kegan Ford was able to get fourth in the 50 freestyle (22.91) and Nicholas Haughton also placed fourth in the 100 freestyle (50.39). Barnes earned second in the 50 butterfly in 24.45 and Ford was third (25.11). Miller maneuvered his was to first in the 100 IM thanks to a time of 54.93.
Philips, Haughton, Ford and Farion Cooper joined together for a victory in the 200 freestyle relay after swimming the race in 1:30.30. Barnes, McCluskey, Brazelton and Miller were second (1:30.36).
KaSandra Kaplan, Latroya Pina, Andreas Weech and Susanna Reese once against opened the meet on the right note for the Bison with a win in the 200 medley relay in 1:53.54. In the 1,000 freestyle, Weech finished second in 12:48.15, followed by Skylar Smith with a time of 12:49.91.
Akeyla Holley swam the 50 backstroke in 30.82, which was good enough for third place. Leanne McMaster checked in second in the 50 backstroke (32.60). Kaplan won the 100 IM (1:03.35) and was the runner-up in the 100 freestyle (55.62). Danielle Brown took home a victory in the 100 breaststroke after completing the race in 1:17.37, with Holley behind her in second in 1:23.29.
There was another one-two combo in the 500 freestyle, led by Akesha Minnifee-Cox with a time of 6:01.20. Michaella Johnson snagged second place in 6:10.17. The Bison showed their strength in the 50 butterfly by sweeping the race. Reese recorded the win thanks to touching the wall in 28.51, as Smith (31.83) and Weech (34.27) were second and third, respectively.
In the 200 freestyle relay, Reese, McMaster, Weech and Kaplan teamed up to win the race in 1:41.49, followed by the team of Brown, Pina, Minnifee-Cox and Holley in second (1:47.28).
Howard will hit the road for the final time when it visits Marymount on Friday, Jan. 20. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
