Photo: Camryn Wilson

FORT PIERCE, Fla. – It was an all-around great first day at the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association Swimming & Diving National Championships as a number of Jamestown Community College men's swimmers posted new marks in their respective events.

The Jayhawks currently sit in seventh in the team standings with 27 team points, one point away from Region 3 foe Erie Community College.

Sophomore Eathan Johnson (Panama, NY/Panama Central) had his fastest time in the 50 yard breaststroke, posting a time of 31.04 for a 19th-place finish, over two seconds faster than his personal best. Eathan Johnson beat out fellow Jayhawk Matthew Fennell (Fourways Garden, Johannesburg, South Africa/King Edwards VII School) who finished 21st with a new personal best, 32.65. Fennell's previous best was 33.86 at the beginning of the season.

Sophomore Elliot Johnson (Panama, NY/Panama Central) swam a new personal best in the 50 yard freestyle, posting a time of 23.77 for a 23rd-place finish. Elliot Johnson's previous time was 24.85 in a meet against Erie Community College in mid-March.

Freshman Colby Pantall (Jamestown, NY/Maple Grove HS) may have had the biggest improvement from his previous times, posting a time of 11:39.35 in the 1000 yard freestyle, nearly one minute and thirty second faster. Pantall finished 16th in the event. Not far behind, fellow Jayhawk Jackson Vanstrom (Jamestown, NY/Southwestern High) placed 17th with a time of 12:17.88. Jackson's previous time in the event was 12:45.59 at the ECC Quad-Meet.

The men finished the night in the 800 yard freestyle relay with the team of Pantall, Vanstrom, Eathan Johnson, and Elliot Johnson. The team finished with a time of 8:31.90 and finished in sixth-place.

The Jayhawks will be back in the pool tomorrow for day two of the 2021 NJCAA Swimming & Diving National Championships with session three starting at 9:30 a.m.