EAST MEADOW, N.Y. – Providence College junior
Will Layden (Farmington, Conn.) claimed the BIG EAST individual title in the 50-yard freestyle on Feb. 23 at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow, N.Y. Layden touched the wall ahead of the field in a time of 20.19, and bested his previous school record in the event. Layden set the previous school-record time of 20.42 in 2022.
Layden is the fourth Providence College men's swim team member to claim a BIG EAST title, and the first to claim victory in the 50-yard freestyle.
Horace Bowden '89 won the 1,650-yard freestyle (1986) to become the program's first BIG EAST Champion. Most recently,
Justin Viotto '22 won the BIG EAST title in the 200-yard butterfly (2021) and
Kevin Hood '23 captured the league crown in the 100-yard breaststroke (2021).
While Layden's BIG EAST Championship highlighted the second day of competition, the men's 200-yard freestyle relay team comprised of
McGovern Brown,
Aidan Hughes,
Alex Beauchene and Layden finished third to claim a bronze medal with a time of 1:21.77. The performance was good for yet another school record, which was previously set by
Brian Cantin, Brown, Hughes and Layden in 2022 (1:22.12).
For a complete set of results from the BIG EAST Championship, please click on the following link:
2023 BIG EAST Swimming & Diving Championship Results
The Friars will return to day three of the championship on Friday, Feb. 24. Trials begin at 10:00 a.m. and finals will start at 5:45 p.m.
- GO FRIARS! -