First-year champion

Frontrunners

Michael Lagieski swimming champion
Freshman Michael Lagieski set a meet and school record on his way to winning the men’s 100 breaststroke at the 2014 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships. (Photo: Danny Reise)

Lagieski is the fourth men’s swimmer in Washington University to win a national championship, joining Michael Slavik (2006, 50 freestyle), Eric Triebe (2006, 200 free) and Alex Beyer (2009 and 2010, 400 individual medley).

Washington University freshman Michael Lagieski set a meet and school record on his way to winning the men’s 100 breaststroke at the 2014 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships at the Indiana University Natatorium.

In fourth place after the first 50 yards, Lagieski closed the final 50 yards .2 of a second faster than the runner-up finisher to set an NCAA Division III Championship meet record with a time of 54.10. Emory University’s Andrew Wilson, who finished second in a time of 54.26, also finished faster than the previous meet record of 54.27 set in 2009. The time was more than .3 of a second faster than Lagieski’s own previous school record time of 54.42. Lagieski is the fourth men’s swimmer in Washington University to win a national championship, joining Michael Slavik (2006, 50 freestyle), Eric Triebe (2006, 200 free) and Alex Beyer (2009 and 2010, 400 individual medley).

The Washington U. men’s team scored 111.5 points to finish 13th overall, their eighth time ever placing in the top-15 at the National Championships and sixth-highest point total in school history.