GREENSBORO, N.C. – Brandeis University senior Sam Dienstag (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) turned in the best performance in school history today at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships, finishing as the runner-up in the 500-yard freestyle, earning his fourth career All-America honor in the process.

Dienstag set a school record in the event with a time of 4:21.86. He led for much of the race, but was caught in the final 50 yards by Connecticut College's Justin Finkel, who edged Dienstag by just 0.54 seconds with a time of 4:21.32.

"I feel great," Dienstag said after the race. "I'm very happy to drop that much time in one race, and I don't think I could have paced it any better. It was a great last 500."

Dienstag lowered his previous school record in the event by about four seconds. He had earned Brandeis's previous best-ever finish at nationals last year, when he placed fifth in the 1,650-yard freestyle. He also finished 13^th in the 500 in 2023.

Earlier in the day, Dienstag, seeded fifth entering the meet, swam in the fourth of five preliminary heats. He won his heat handily, posting a time of 4:25.88. Despite being 0.05 off his season-best, Dienstag defeated his next-closest opponent in the race, Ryan Nunez from Williams by about two-and-a-half seconds.

 "We're so proud of Sam," said head coach Nicole Carter. "He raced his heart out and clearly gave it all he had. The energy during the finish was amazing – we could feel the excitement from his teammates all the way from Waltham! It was an experience we won't ever forget. Now, we're excited to see what the rest of the week brings."

With his second-place finish, Dienstag scored 17 points for Brandeis in the team scoring. This puts the Judges in 19th place out of 32 teams that have scored points at the Championships through five events. 

Dienstag will compete in two more events at the championship meet in Greensboro North Carolina in the 200-yard freestyle tomorrow and the 1,650-yard freestyle on Saturday.