INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Vikings remained in third place with one day remaining at the 2023 Horizon League Championships.
"Tonight is what we have trained for all season," said head coach Hannah Burandt. "We showed our true Viking spirit, and it came through in our races and presence on deck. I'm so proud of our entire team! It was a special night, and tomorrow is where we shine!"
Paddy Johnston started the third night with a runner-up finish in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing with the ninth-fastest time in program history, 47.24. The sophomores' time was a CSCAA B-cut. Also in the event, Thomas Lundin placed 12th with a CSCAA B-cut.
Jackson Nester repeated as the Horizon League Champion in the 400-yard IM after breaking his own school record with an NCAA B-cut time of 3:48.34. In addition, Nester's time was a CSCAA A-cut. Reno James took 13th and Jake Taulbee was 14th as both achieved CSCAA B-cut times.
In the 200-yard freestyle, Nathen Eberhardt came in third place after clocking the third-fastest time in program history, 1:37.36. Connor Green (1:38.45) placed fifth, and Spencer Tussing (1:39.09) was seventh. All three Vikings in the A-final put up CSCAA B-cut times. Quinn DeGraaf rounded out the Green and White in the event, coming in 16th.
Griffin Manning claimed fourth place in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing with the fourth-fastest time in program history with an NCAA B-cut time of 53.67. That time was also a CSCAA A-cut. Blake Fry (55.91) and Tyler Schultze (56.27) came in seventh and eighth place with CSCAA B-cut times.
Johnston picked up his second runner-up finish of the evening in the 100-yard backstroke, touching the wall in the ninth-fastest time in program history with an NCAA B-cut time of 47.07. That time was also a CSCAA A-cut. Kenny Thomas (49.45) and Josh Merchbaker (49.81) came in seventh and eighth with CSCAA B-cut times. Eberhardt was the runner-up in the B-finals with a CSCAA B-cut time of 49.55.
The Green and White ended the evening with a third-place finish in the 400-yard medley relay as Johnston, Manning, Lundin, and Green clocked a 3:14.28.
Horizon League Champions
Jackson Nester – 400 IM
NCAA B-Cuts
Jackson Nester in the prelims of the 400-yard IM (3:51.28).
Jackson Nester in the finals of the 400-yard IM (3:48.34)
Paddy Johnston in the prelims of the 100-yard backstroke (47.42)
Paddy Johnston in the finals of the 100-yard backstroke (47.07)
Griffin Manning in the finals of the 100-yard breaststroke (53.67)
Team Standings
1. IUPUI - 616
2. Oakland - 568
3. Cleveland State - 370
4. Youngstown State - 275
5. Milwaukee - 255
6. Green Bay - 226
Day 4 Events
1650 Free
200 Back
100 Free
200 Breast
200 Fly
400 Free Relay
