The NJIT men's swimming and diving team completed a resounding home opening meet with a first place finish in the NJIT Invitational Saturday afternoon at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center Natatorium.
The Highlanders topped the 1,000 point mark for the two-day meet and cleared second place UMass by 161.5 points (1030-868.5). Following NJIT and UMass on the men's side were LIU (588.5) and Saint Peter's (238).
On the women's side, Vermont edged out UMass by less than 100 points (1,133-1,045), with LIU (504) taking third and Saint Peter's (36) finishing fourth.
SATURDAY HIGHLANDER VICTORIES AND HIGHLIGHTS
- Francois Malherbe: 200 Free (1:38.81); 100 Free (44.54)
- Aidan Blackmon: 100 Back (51.40)
- Laith Sabbah: 200 Back (1:50.51)
- Bartosz Bryg: 200 Breast (2:06.82)
- Sam Deemer/Matthew Bevan/Ian Horstkamp-Vinekar/Francois Malherbe: 400 Medley Relay (3:25.54)
- Laith Sabbah/Tanish Chhabra/Aidan Blackmon/Francois Malherbe: 400 Free Relay (3:04.92)
- Malherbe's time in the 100 Free set a new WEC record, besting the 44.76 record by UMBC's Bode Neale at the NJIT-hosted 2021 America East Championships.
OTHER TOP THREE FINISHES
- Ian Horstkamp-Vinekar: 100 Fly (51.98, 2nd); 200 Fly (1:57.08, 3rd)
- Matthew Bevan: 100 Breast (58.76, 2nd)
- Sam Deemer: 100 Back (51.61, 2nd); 200 Back (1:52.26; 3rd)
- Laith Sabbah: 200 Free (1:41.94, 3rd)
- Bartosz Bryg: 100 Breast (58.80, 3rd)
- Aidan Blackmon: 100 Free (47.12, 3rd)
NEXT UP
NJIT will remain at home for their next two dual meets, beginning next Saturday (Oct. 21) against Georgetown at 11 a.m.