Greensboro, N.C., March 16, 2016 – The Washington University in St. Louis men's 200-medley relay set a school record on the way to a fourth-place finish to highlight five All-America finishes for the Bears on the first day of the 2016 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships Wednesday at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.

After getting into the championship final with the seventh-fastest prelim time, the men's 200-medley relay team of freshman Kevin Van Cleave, junior Michael Lagieski, senior Reed Dalton and sophomore Ross Brown clocked a school-record time of 1:29.33 to finish fourth overall. The time was nearly four-tenths of a second faster than the record of 1:29.71 set earlier this season.

Lagieski added an eighth-place finish and All-America honors in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:52.32. He had broken his own school record in the event twice during the morning session. Lagieski swam 1:50.06 in the prelims to tie for the eighth-fastest time, which required a swim-off. In the swim-off, he shaved nearly a second off his time, finishing in 1:49.15 to secure the final qualifying spot in the championship final.

It was Lagieski's first career All-America finish in the 200 IM. Van Cleave finished 24^th in the event in 1:51.81, while junior Reese Frerichs was 41^st with a career-best time of 1:54.20.

The WashU women had two individuals swim to All-America honorable mention honors. Sophomore Nicole Zanolli finished 13^th in the 500 free in 4:57.79, while sophomore Niamh O'Grady was 13^th in the 200 IM in 2:04.86. It was Zanolli's second honorable mention All-America finish of her career, and first in the 500 free. O'Grady moved up one spot from her 14^th-place finish in the 200 IM a year ago.

Zanolli also teamed with senior Sophie Gan and juniors Lauren Carlos and MariMac Collins to finish 14^th in the women's 200-medley relay for All-America honorable mention honors. The group clocked a time of 1:45.23 in the final event of Wednesday's competition.

Senior Kristalyn McAfee swam a season-best time of 2:07.05 to finish 29^th in the women's 200 IM, while Gan (2:07.62) and senior Amanda Stadermann (2:08.80) were 32^nd and 41^st, respectively.

Dalton also swam a career-best time of 20.60 to finish 21^st in the 50 free. Senior Luke Dobben was 18^th in the men's 500 free in 4:33.18. Collins tied for 32^nd in the women's 50 free (23.88), while senior Katie Anderson clocked a career-best 24.12 to tie for 45^th.

After nine events, the WashU men are in seventh in the team standings with 41 points, while the women are tied for 16^th with 14 points. Denison University (131) and Kenyon College (117.5) are in first and second, respectively, in the men's team standings, while Emory University (127) and Kenyon (119) are atop the women's.

WashU will have 11 individuals and four relays in action during day two of the NCAA Championships Thursday. Events scheduled for day two include the 200-free relays, 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free and 400-medley relays. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. (ET), with final starting at 6 p.m. (ET).