Photo courtesy of JCC Athletics

FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Jamestown Community College’s swimming and diving teams shattered the record books and racked up over 20 All-American spots on day two of the NJCAA swimming and diving championships at Indian River State College on Thursday.

“Five school records and 23 All-Americans in day two is just an amazing feat for this squad,” said head coach Todd Conklin.

The night started with the 200-yard freestyle relay, where the women’s team of Hayley Dawson, Anna Jones, Paiden Wittmeyer and Madison Kramer finished fourth overall and locked up another program record by swimming a 1:44:58.

The men’s team of Maxim Johnson, Brady Lindstrom, Lukas Baer and Toby Gifford also made the podium and notched a school record with a 1:33:81, good enough for seventh place.

Kramer, the 2023 female Swimmer of the Meet, made her individual debut in the 50-yard backstroke. The sophomore clocked a 27.46, good enough for fourth overall, and a new school and Region 3 record. She was just .5 seconds off of the championship pace, which is notable as the three ladies in front of her are scholarship athletes.

“I started the day saying I thought today could be recording-setting, and this evening we were on fire,” Conklin said. “We set records for each team; Maddie Kramer with new records. That momentum was what we needed. The ladies stepped up again, and we put ourselves in a fantastic position after day two.”

Flipping to the 400-yard individual medley, Dawson earned a seventh, and teammate Jones brought home eighth. Jones’ time of 5:40:03 was a new personal best.

Kramer and Wittmeyer were back in the water for the 100-yard butterfly. Kramer brought home a sixth-place time of 1:00:86 for a new JCC record, while Wittmeyer finished 14th overall.

Next up was Max Johnson in the 100-yard butterfly, where he notched a seventh-place mark in 51:99.

South African Stacey Blackler was the Jayhawks’ lone competitor in the women’s 200-yard freestyle. Her time of 2:17:38 brought her home with a 10th.

The last event of the night was the 400-yard medley relays, where JCC put two more squads on the podium and clocked All-American swims. The ladies team of Lindsey Spitz, Wittmeyer, Kramer and Dawson claimed fourth place. On the men’s side, the group of Gifford, Baer, Lindstrom and Johnson finished in sixth. During the swim Brady Lindstrom set a new program record in the 100-yard backstroke.

“Both relays really stepped up. The four guys are fighting their hearts out,” Conklin said. “All the guys had their best swims and that is all we can ask for. They are giving themselves a chance to be champs, and that is what we are focusing on.”

All swimmers and divers who finish in the top eight earn All-American status, and those who clock a time ninth through 12th receive honorable-mention recognition.

Day three of the national championship picks back up bright and early this morning.