GENEVA, Ohio – The Long Island University men's 800-yard freestyle relay team of Mario Rodriguez Poulsen, Léandre Renault, Finn Drysdale, and Emilio Garcia set a NEC meet record and school-record time of 6:35.01 to claim the conference title on day one of the NEC Championships.
 
The Sharks were also on the podium on day one for the men's 200-yard medley relay. Ayden Almaraz, Polat Tasbasi, Martin Navelsaker Beitveit, and Aleksa Vujosevic finished with a time of 1:29.83 to take third place.
 
The LIU men's swim team repeated history with their 2025 day one opening of the NEC Championships where they took first in the 800-yard freestyle relay and third in the 200-yard medley relay. Drysdale and Garcia repeated on the 800-yard freestyle relay while all four swimmers were different for the Sharks on the 200-yard medley relay.
 
"The men's 800-yard freestyle relay NEC record has been one of our goals this season. Starting the championships with a new conference record is what every coach hopes for!" said head coach Jon Pepaj. "We had very promising splits for all of the swimmers in the 200-yard medley relays and are excited for day two tomorrow."
 
The women's 200-yard medley relay team of Amanda Gkeli, Gabriela Novais Lima, Liene Vientiesa, and Alexandra Ciorna finished in fourth place with a time of 1:43.85.
 
The Sharks currently hold fourth place with a team score of 72 for the men and are tied for sixth place with a team score of 54 for the women after day one of competition.
 
The NEC Championships continue on Wednesday with events six through 14; the 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle, 3 meter diving, and 200-yard freestyle relays.