Lautenschleger wins fourth consecutive 500 free title on first day of 2018 Women's OAC Swimming & Diving Championships

By Tim Glon

| OAC Championships Site | All-OAC Honorees by Event |

AKRON — Mount Union's Dana Lautenschleger won her fourth consecutive title in the 500 free to highlight the first day of the 2018 Women's Ohio Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships on Thursday at the University of Akron's Ocasek Natatorium.

The top three finishers in each individual event and the top two relay teams earn All-Conference honors.

Lautenschleger won her fourth straight title in the 500 free, touching first in an NCAA "B" Cut of 4:58.22. She becomes only the second 4-time winner of the event, following John Carroll's Carrie Scherger (1998-2001).

John Carroll broke the OAC record in the 400 medley relay to conclude the exciting first day of competition, finishing in 3:53.66. That was .30 faster than the previous record of 3:53.96 set by the Blue Streaks in 2016 and marking the school's fourth consecutive victory in the event.

Wilmington's Samantha Glish won the 50 free in :23.99.

Ohio Northern's Lauren Halle edged John Carroll's Gwyn Ledrick in the 200 I.M. by just .42 of a second, winning in 2:08.26.

John Carroll opened the meet with a victory in the 200 free relay. Olivia Talamo, Felice Ferrante, Gwyn Ledrick and Shelbi Shearer won in 1:37.63.

JCU holds a 247.5-172 lead over Mount Union. Baldwin Wallace is third with 144 points, Ohio Northern is fourth in 141.5 points and Wilmington is fifth with 88 points through five of the 20 events.

Day two of the three-day championships is Friday with prelims at 10 am and finals at 6 pm and the final day is Saturday with prelims at 10 am and finals at 5:30 pm.

Team Standings After Day 1

1. John Carroll 247.5, 2. Mount Union 172, 3. Baldwin Wallace 144, 4. Ohio Northern 141.5, 5. Wilmington 88.