BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Cortland men's swimming and diving team, led by an NCAA regional-qualifying diving performance by freshman Ian Killane (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa), a fourth-place finish by Nick Galeto (West Islip) in the 500-yard freestyle, and three top-four relay showings, currently sits in second place after Thursday's first full day of competition at the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championships.

The championship, held at Erie Community College's Flickinger Center, will continue Friday with prelims at 10 a.m. and finals at 5:30 p.m., with the final day scheduled for Saturday.

Geneseo leads the meet with 326 points, followed by Cortland with 195 and Oswego with 179.5. Rounding out the top five in the nine-team field are New Paltz in fourth (153), and Buffalo State and Fredonia tied for fifth (135 each).

The competition opened with a limited schedule Wednesday that included diving and the 800-yard freestyle relay. Killane finished fourth on the 3-meter board with a score of 450.65 points, which qualifies him for the NCAA Division III Regionals at Ithaca College March 2-3. He surpassed the qualifying standard by more than 10 points. Patrick Conway (Wantagh/Kellenberg Memorial) finished sixth at 403.50 points.

Cortland's 800 free relay squad of Tim Rokos (Duanesburg), Galeto, Brian Cremer (Blue Point/Bayport-Blue Point) and Bailey Eigbrett (Avon) finished third Wednesday in 7:02.60.

Galeto highlighted Thursday's action with his fourth-place time of 4:44.40 in the 500 freestyle. Rokos qualified for the finals in the 200-yard individual medley and placed eighth in 1:58.94 (1:58.46 prelims). Both of Cortland's relays Thursday finished in fourth place. Rokos, Eric Kohlhoff (West Islip), Billy Donlevy (Bayside/Holy Cross) and Eigbrett were clocked in 1:26.40 in the 200-yard freestyle relay, while Galeto, Dylan Cornelia (Deer Park), Donlevy and Eigbrett finished the 400-yard medley relay in 3:30.37.

Cortland also scored points with 10 finishes between ninth and 16th place. Donlevy won the "B" final in the 200-yard IM in 1:58.45 for a ninth-place showing. Boyko was 10th in the 500 freestyle (4:49.91) and Kohlhoff placed 10th in the 50-yard freestyle (21.70). Brendan Miranda (Wantagh) was 11th in 3-meter diving (284.45 points).

Adam Kirchgessner (West Irondequoit) finished 12th in the 500 freestyle (4:55.61). Cornelia (2:00.52) and Noah Farmer (New Hartford) (2:00.69) were 12th and 13th, respectively, in the 200 IM, and Eigbrett finished 14th in the 50 free (22.03). John Severs (Suffern) (4:58.19, 4:57.65 prelims) and Cremer (5:04.87, 4:56.86 prelims) finished 15th and 16th, respectively, in the 500 free.

Championship Web Page (includes links to results, photos, streaming video, etc.)

2018 SUNYAC Men's Swimming and Diving Championships

STANDINGS AFTER DAY 1  (Feb. 22)
1) Geneseo - 326
2) Cortland - 195
3) Oswego - 179.5
4) New Paltz - 153
tie5) Buffalo St. - 135
tie5) Fredonia - 135
7) Oneonta - 106.5
8) Brockport - 61
9) Potsdam - 58