ITHACA, N.Y. – The Hobart and William Smith swimming & diving teams concluded a successful first day at the Liberty League Championships this evening and were highlighted by a record-breaking performance by senior diver Daniel Barrientos.
 
Barrientos shined from the 3-meter board this afternoon, finishing first in the preliminary rounds after earning an 11-dive score of 608.25 to claim the top-seed in the finals this evening. He continued to impress in the finals, posting an impressive score of 630.10 in the six-dive championship round to secure first place and his first career Liberty League title. Barrientos' 11-dive score shattered several records including the Hobart program record, the Ithaca pool record, the Liberty League Championship record and the Association record, which was previously held by Union's Sam Hoyt in 2017.
 
 
In the men's 400-yard medley relay, Hobart secured a spot in the "A" finals, where sophomore Payton Owens, first-year's Sebastian Iancu and Joseph Thompson along with senior Randall Dominguez swam to a ninth-place finish with a time of 4:05.28.
 
On the women's side, junior Mackenzie Morus had a standout showing for the Herons in the 200-yard Individual Medley. Morus swam to a second-place finish in her heat in the preliminary rounds, touching the wall at a personal-best 2:15.17 to secure a spot in the "A" finals this evening. She is the first Heron to qualify for an individual event's "A" finals since 2020. Morus then went on to finish eighth overall in the 200 IM "A" finals after swimming to a time of 2:15.26.
 
 
First-year Lark Sallade also advanced to the finals in the 200-yard IM after touching the wall at 2:18.64 in the preliminary round to secure a spot in the event's "C" finals. Sallade went on to swim to a 24th place finish after stopping the clock at 2:22.59.
 
William Smith also impressed in the women's 500-yard freestyle event as it produced three finalists. Sophomores Kaleigh Boynton, Aurora Donta-Venman and Sadie Levy all secured spots in the "C" finals after strong performances in the preliminary rounds. In the finals, all three Heron swimmers recorded personal best times. Boynton swam to a 19th place finish with a time of 5:32.04, while Donta-Venman followed in 21st after touching the wall at 5:32.04. Levy rounded out the group with a 22nd place finish after stopping the clock at 5:38.44.
 
In the women's 400-yard medley relay, the Herons secured a spot in the "B" finals. First-year Sofia Ciereck, Sallade, and seniors Hali Seidberg and Lea Doufekias Emanuel swam to a 14th place finish after combining for a time of 4:16.48.
 
COACHES CORNER:
 
"Daniel's dominant 3-meter performance today, both in prelims and finals, made us excited for what the rest of the week has in store," said Diving Coach and Assistant Aquatics Director Eliana Wallock. "This record breaking first place finish solidifies his mark on both Hobart and Liberty League history!"
 
UP NEXT:

The Statesmen and the Herons will participate in Day 2 of the Liberty League Championships tomorrow in the Kelsey Partridge Natatorium. Action will begin at 10 a.m. in the prelims and will cover the 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 400-yard IM, women's 1-meter diving and the 200-yard freestyle relay.