Record-Setting Performance Leads Pride Men at New England Championships

KINGSTON, R.I. – Brendan Pike (Weymouth, Mass.) broke a school record as he was one of three swimmers to post top-four finishes as the Regis College men's swim team continued competition at the 2020 New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships Saturday at the University of Rhode Island's Tootell Aquatic Center.

Pike broke the school record in the 400 individual medley during the morning preliminary session, posting a time of 4:19.71, 2.37 seconds quicker than the previous standard established by Kiet Luong in 2017. In the evening final, Pike further lowered the record by 2.99 seconds, finishing second in the event with a time of 4:16.72, 5/100ths of a second in front of the third place finisher.

GianCarlos Banrey (Roslindale, Mass.) finished third in the 50 butterfly with a time of 24.04 seconds in the final after completing his preliminary race in 23.86 seconds. Earlier in the evening, Banrey led off the 200 medley relay with a 50 back split of 25.88 seconds, joining with Pike, Grant Kollien (Acton, Mass.), and Robert Wood (Cathedral City, Calif.) to win the consolation final in 1:45.20, ending up ninth overall in the event.

Individually, Wood finished fourth in the 200 freestyle, cutting over two seconds off his preliminary time of 1:48.75 to post an evening mark of 1:46.53. Wood also anchored the 200 freestyle relay with a 50 free split of 22.57 seconds as Banrey, Pike, and Kollien participated before him, combining for a time of 1:32.65 to finish in eighth place. Kollien finished in ninth place in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:36.13.

As a team, the Pride collected 97 points Saturday for a total of 148 points, remaining in eighth place just two points behind seventh place Western Connecticut State. Roger Williams leads the way with 711 points, comfortably ahead of second place Keene State with 394 points.

The 2020 NEISDA Swimming and Diving Championships enters its final day Sunday, Feb. 16, starting at 10 a.m. with the preliminaries of the 100 freestyle, 50 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 100 individual medley, and 400 freestyle relay.