Johns Hopkins junior Ana Bogdanovski became the first two-time NCAA champion in the history of the Blue Jays swimming program on Wednesday, taking first place in the 50-meter freestyle on the first day of the NCAA Division III championships in Indianapolis, Ind.
Image caption: The women's 200 medley relay team of, from left to right, Pilar Shimizu, Kylie Ternes, Sarah Rinsma, and Taylor Kitayama.
Bogdanovski's win was the first of two national championship performances for the Blue Jays, who also placed first in the women's 200 medley relay.
Johns Hopkins is in second place in the overall standings with 100 points after the first day of the meet, 27 points behind four-time defending national champion Emory.
"The key is they are swimming really well, even if they're not winning, our kids are in the hunt to win races," JHU coach George Kennedy said. "It sets the tone, that it can happen, and it all took place in practice with how hard they've worked this year. But we've got six more sessions to go and we've won two, we just have to try to win each session."
In the 50 free, Bogdanovski trailed Springfield's Kellie Pennington by 0.15 seconds at the turn but was faster over the final 25 meters. Her final time of 22.80—0.37 seconds better than her own school record—was 0.26 seconds better than Pennington's. The win gave Bogdanovski her second NCAA title in two years; she was a member of the winning 800 freestyle relay team in 2013.
"I was excited and ready to race," Bogdanovski said. "I think winning the 50 is a good sign for the 100. I think this was the race that was the most up in the air for me, so I think it's a good sign. I also think it sets the tone for the rest of the team that it is possible to do something great here."
Seniors Kylie Ternes and Sarah Rinsma took sixth and seventh, respectively in the 50 freestyle, then teamed with freshman Pilar Shimizu and senior Taylor Kitayama to win the 200 medley relay in a school-record time of 1:41.94.
"It feels incredible, especially as seniors to have three of us on that relay," Ternes said. "But also knowing that we have a freshman on the relay, it's nice as seniors and co-captains, to know that we have someone to keep it going once we leave."
The meet continues today beginning at 10 a.m. and runs through Saturday at the Indiana University Natatorium.
