DePauw’s McManus wins NCAA swimming crown

DePauw’s Sam McManus likes his time on the scoreboard at Saturday’s NCAA Championships.

DePauw photo

INDIANAPOLIS — DePauw senior Sam McManus became just the fifth student-athlete in DePauw history to earn an individual national championship when he won the 200-yard breaststroke on Saturday at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships at the IU Natatorium.

McManus, who was second in Friday night’s 100 breast, earned his fourth individual all-America honor including two last year. In Saturday’s prelims, McManus was fourth after finishing in 2:00.53.

As he did in Friday night’s finals, McManus relied on a strong finish to win the title. After 100 yards, he was in sixth, but closed to third after a 30.33-second split. With 50 yards to go, he pulled ahead with a split of 30.22 and touched first in 1:58.57 which broke his own school record of 1:59.46 which was established at last year’s Championships.

McManus joins DePauw’s previous national champions which include Alan Hill (men’s track and field/pole vault, 1981), Midi Smyth (women’s swimming and diving/100 backstroke, 1985), Colin Smith (men’s track and field/discus, 1998), Liz Bondi (women’s tennis/singles, 2007).

In Saturday’s prelims, the 400 free relay team of Adam Pircon, Will Serf, McManus and Kurt Swieter was 18th in 3:04.95. DePauw totaled 47 points in the meet and finished 15th for its best finish since 2015.