Emory women and Denison men. Plus, Natalie Garre makes history
Emory women are back in first place, and the Denison men claim the top spot coming out of their invitational.
Bowdoin’s Natalie Garre swam the women’s 1650 in 16:31.90.
Allow us to provide some context. Natalie Garre’s 16:31.90:
Is the fastest debut performance in women’s 1650 since the founding of Division III.1
And is the second fastest women’s 1650 swim by a first-year athlete in Division III history.2
Makes her only the second D3 athlete ever to swim the women’s 1650 under 16:40 before conference championships or nationals.3
After swimming the mile once in Division III competition, Natalie Garre is now the seventh fastest ever in the women’s 1650.4
For D3, this is an interesting moment in women’s distance swimming.
Three of the last five national championships in women’s 1650 have been won by first-years.
In 2022-23, Kristin Cornish gave us the single-greatest distance season in the history of Division III (and her absence from D3 competition leaves us bereft).
Last season’s national champion, Bengisu Caymaz, is faster than she was at this time last year.
Already sixteen athletes have recorded times in the mile faster than last season’s invite time for nationals.
And now, we witness the most explosive debut in women’s 1650 in the entire history of Division III.
Oh, and while we are fascinated by the mile, we do also care about the 500 Free. Natalie Garre now has the Division III lead in women’s 500 Free, with a 4:48.54.
In 2022 and 2024, 4:48.54 would have won nationals.
In 2023, that time would have earned second place, right behind Kristin Cornish.
Later this week, we will take a closer look at the Denison men and Emory women, as well as some other action around the division. For now, you can find the team aggregates here (click on the tables to see the actual team aggregates).
The wording is a little clunky, but you can see from the chart below that - except for Kristin Cornish and Natalie Garre - fast 1650s are swum exclusively in February or March, at conference champs (Angela Newlon) or nationals (everyone else).
If you are interested in the history before 2006, here’s a little more. At 1996 Nationals, Heidi George of Middlebury went 16:40.16 in the women’s 1650, setting a record that held until 2009 when Liz Horvat of Emory beat the record by almost exactly 10 seconds (16:30.16). Liz Horvat’s record stood for a year before being broken by Caroline Wilson of Williams. Caroline Wilson’s record stood until 2015 when Sarah Thompson, also of Williams, set the current Division III record in the women’s mile.
Both Emory and Denison men looked good. The big difference is the Denison freshmen. Given the last couple of years for Denison, one class seems to have changed their fortunes. Emory had strong swims but there is a lot more there clearly. Some of their guys weren’t as sharp as I would have expected but they too had some big swims by freshmen. The problem with the Denison Invite is Indy makes some of the other swims look slow. When there is a 1:52 200 breast by an Indy freshman, the 1:57.0 for 2nd looks like a marginal swim in the water. Both Denison and Emory have a few holes in their lineups that need to be filled. And there are swimmers like Tobe Obochi and Brayden Morford who will figure in at the sharp end of whichever events they decide to swim in March. Training the next few months will be the focus and then conference meets will give us a better look at NESCAC and other later-starters.
Congratulations to Natalie Garre! Thanks to D3 Swimming Outsider for highlighting the speed in D3, and the fun competitive nature of it.