Hollimon, Conati Head to NCAAs with National Championship Hopes

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Greensboro Aquatic Center

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Junior diver Kendall Hollimon and sophomore swimmer Marco Conati head to the NCAA Division III Championships this week with their sights set on challenging for the national titles in their top events.

Hollimon will be making his third trip to nationals, after finishing fourth in the three-meter and seventh in the one-meter last season. He earned his way back by taking first place in the three-meter at the NCAA Regionals earlier this month, and will be one of the contenders for both diving national championships. 

The one-meter dive will take place on Thursday, with prelims in the morning at 10 a.m. and the finals in the evening at 6 p.m. (Eastern time). The three-meter will be on the events final day on Saturday, with the same format of prelims in the morning and finals in the evening. 

Conati, meanwhile, comes in seeded seventh in the 100-yard butterfly after earning a top time of 48.39 during the regular season. David Fitch of Kenyon swam the top time in Division III with a 47.74, putting Conati just over a half-second behind. The top eight finishers in finals qualify for the championship finals and earn first-team All-America honors, which Conati will aim for in the morning on Thursday. 

In addition to the 100 fly, Conati will also compete in the 50 free, with the prelims taking place on the opening day of the championship on Wednesday, and the 100 free, which will be held on the final day on Saturday. He comes in ranked 26th of the 57 competitors in the 50 with a top time of 20.53, but just six-hundredths of a second separates him and 18th place, giving him a chance to reach at least the consolation finals (9th-16th) with a strong swim and earn honorable mention All-America honors. 

Here is the complete schedule of events that the Stags will be competing in (times are Eastern): 

Wednesday, March 20
10 a.m. Prelims - 6 p.m. Finals
50 free (Marco Conati) - seeded 26th

Thursday, March 21
10 a.m. Prelims - 6 p.m. Finals
One-Meter Dive (Kendall Hollimon)
100 fly (Marco Conati) - seeded 7th

Saturday, March 23
10 a.m. Prelims - 6 p.m. Finals
Three-Meter Dive (Kendall Hollimon)
100 free (Marco Conati) - seeded 36th