Suckow Has Record-Setting Day, Lions Fall to Princeton

Saturday, December 8

New York, N.Y.

1:00 P.M.

Columbia

138.5

161.5

Princeton

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

Suckow Has Record-Setting Day, Lions Fall to Princeton

12/8/2018 4:27:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving

Results (PDF)2018-19 Schedule

Columbia fell in a tight meet to Princeton, 161.5-138.5, at Uris Natatorium on Saturday

NEW YORK — Sophomore diver Jonathan Suckow had two record-setting performances, but the Columbia men's swimming and diving team fell in a tight contest to the visiting Princeton Tigers, 161.5-138.5.

"It was certainly an exciting meet," said Columbia head coach Jim Bolster. "We knew it would be a good meet and it was. Lots of really good races, but there were just two or three races that didn't go our way. But overall, I was very pleased with the effort and I think the fans got a really good taste of college swimming in the Ivy League. It was a great meet and it went down pretty much to the last relay."

After missing the past few meets, Suckow didn't seem to miss a beat in his return. The sophomore diver opened up the meet with a dominant victory on the 3-meter springboard, shattering his own program record and Uris Pool record in the process with a score of 452.02. He went on to break both records on 1-meter as well with a score of 432.76, topping Mark Fichera's previous record of 406.50 set in 2001.

"Everyone who came and watched the diving today was treated to the best diving that this pool has ever seen," said Columbia diving coach Scott Donie. "Another historic day in Columbia diving."

The lead went back and forth throughout the entire meet, but Columbia got off to a great start with help from Suckow and its 200-yard medley 'A' squad. Junior Cole Stevens, junior Nian-Guo Liu, senior Shane Brett and first-year Jonas Kistorp raced to a victory in the event at 1:30.39.

Despite an extremely close race in the 200 free, Princeton took a brief lead in the meet by winning the first two individual swimming events.

Stevens helped righted the ship with a triumph in the 100 backstroke at 49.71, just out-touching Princeton's Cole Buese at 49.85. Columbia first-year helped add valuable points, placing third in 50.46.

The Tigers took the 100 breaststroke as senior Pearce Kieser placed second in 57.43 ahead of junior Erek Cox who finished fourth with a time of 58.73, but the Lions still clung to a slight 56.5-55.5 edge.

In the 200 butterfly, junior Zac Pear finished second with a time of 1:50.48 and Brett claimed fourth in 1:51.39, but Princeton's win pushed them ahead, 68.5-62.5.

The Lions were without the services of sophomore sprinter Albert Gwo, but first-year Kistorp stepped up to deliver a win in the 50 free. The rookie went 20.63, holding off Princeton's Christian Feiler who touched in 20.68. Junior Kevin Dang placed fourth for Columbia in 21.13.

Suckow's record-breaking performance on 1-meter helped put the Lions ahead, and Nian-Guo Liu helped stretch that lead a bit with a big victory in the 100 free. Liu surged into the wall at 44.97 to get the win, while Dang finished fourth in 45.81.

Princeton went on to take three-straight individual wins in the 200 back, 200 breast and 500 free, but Columbia hung in there, trailing just 126.5-118.5 with three events remaining.

Kistorp once again came up big, winning the 100 fly with a time of 48.91. Brett was Columbia's next highest finisher, placing fourth in 50.23. The victory helped close the scoring gap, but the Lions still trailed 134.5-129.5.

The Tigers ultimately sealed their team win by taking the top the 400 free relay, as Columbia took second in 3:02.11.

The Lions will return to action Sunday, Jan. 13, beginning the new year with a dual meet against Cornell in Ithaca, New York.

For the latest on the Columbia men's swimming and diving program, follow @ColumbiaMenSwim on Twitter, @ColumbiaMenSwimming and @ColumbiaDiving on Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.