University of Mary Washington sophomore Alex Anderson became the fourth individual NCAA national champion in UMW school history by breaking the NCAA Division III record in the 400 yard individual medley on Thursday night in Shenandoah, Texas. Anderson finished with a time of 3:50.55.
Seeded fourth in the event entering the championships with a time of 3:57, Anderson destroyed his career best by seven seconds in the final, swimming from lane five. He led the race from start to finish. He breaks the previous NCAA Division III record of 3:51.45, broken in 2009 by Alex Beyer of Washington University.
"Alex represented all of the Eagles in the best way possible tonight", said UMW head coach Abby Brethauer. "We could not be more proud of his national championship. To do it in record setting fashion makes it even more special."
Anderson joins Shannon Hutcherson (women's swimming, 1993), Myra Simpson (women's track, 1996), and Paul Bristow and Dan Uyar (men's tennis doubles) as an individual national champion at UMW.
Anderson was a member of the 400 medley relay, which finished in 12th place on Thursday night. Michael Yelmgren, Peter Slattery, Anderson, and Nick Eckhoff placed 12th with a record time of 3:21.72.