Jan. 29, 2007
Complete Release and Individual Season-Best Times in PDF Format
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THIS WEEK
San Diego State concludes its regular-season with a dual meet against cross-town rival University of San Diego at the Toreros' USD Sports Center Pool at noon on Saturday, Feb. 3.
WINNING OUT
Should SDSU win its final dual meets of the season this Saturday at USD, it would mark the best victory total for the Aztecs since the 2001-02 season when it had 10 wins.
COACHING STAFF
San Diego State head coach Deena Schmidt is in her 13th season as head coach of the Aztec swimming and diving program. The former Olympian, who won a gold medal as a member of the 400 medley relay team at the 1972 Olympics, is a 1988 graduate of San Diego State. Schmidt is assisted by Greg Hutt, also in his 13th season. Jim Wynne is in his fifth season as the Aztec diving coach.
MOST RECENTLY
The Aztecs won both ends of a double meet hosted by Pepperdine in Malibu last Saturday (Jan. 27), defeating both Cal Poly (110-30) and the host Waves (86-54). In the process, SDSU evened its 2006-07 season record at 8-8.
TRIPLE WINNER
Senior Kimberlee Frith was one of SDSU's leaders in last weekend's victories as she won a pair of events, and then swam the anchor leg on the final relay that recorded the team's best time of the season. Frith took first place in both the 100 free (53.61) and 200 free (1:54.56), and was a member of the 400 free relay team (along with Ana Dowell, Kyla Power and Emily Parker) that won in a time of (3:37.82). She also took third in the 50 freestyle (24.70).
DALY COMES THROUGH AGAIN
Brittany Daly was the Aztecs' other double winner at Pepperdine, capturing the 500 free (5:06.85) and 1000 Free (10:27.49). Both of those times represented season bests for the junior distance specialist. In between her two wins, Daly took second in the 200 butterfly with a personal season best mark of 2:13.87.
OTHER TOP FINISHES
In last weekend's double dual vs. Pepperdine and Cal Poly, San Diego State also got first-place finishes from Katie Smith in the 200 backstroke (2:07.29), Ana Dowell in the 200 butterfly (2:10.92) and Jessica Morrill in the 200 breaststroke (2:24.55). In addition, Smith was second in the 100 back and 200 IM, Morrill was second in the 100 breast, and Rosalie Raymond was runner-up in both the 500 and 1000 freestyle.
NEW PERSONAL BESTS
Nine individual personal bests were set by Aztec swimmers last Saturday. That lists includes Emily Parker in the 200 free, Daly in the 500 and 1000 free plus the 200 butterfly, Raymond in the 1000 free, Ana Dowell in the 200 butterfly, Kendal Twilling in the 100 backstroke, Kyla Power in the 200 backstroke and Lauren Dakin in the 200 breaststroke.
ZONE QUALIFIER
Freshman diver Caitlin Atkinson recorded a Zone E qualifier score in the 1-meter event when she totaled 268.59 points during the UNLV Winter Invitational in mid-December. Her score allows her to advance to the zone meet in mid-February where she will attempt to qualify for the 2007 NCAA championship meet to be held in Minneapolis March 8-10.
RECORD SETTERS
Atkinson's score of 268.59 at the UNLV Winter Invitational was a San Diego State record for the 1-meter board. She broke her own record of 264.08 which she set at the dual meet at North Texas on Nov. 17. Teammate Megan Flanagan established an SDSU record in the three-meter board with 265.20 points at North Texas.
CONSISTENT IMPROVEMENT
Among the Aztecs' seven swimmers who are returnees after one or more seasons at SDSU, a total of 22 personal best times have been recorded in various events this season. In addition, both returning divers have established new career-high scores in the 1-meter and 3-meter.
AMONG THE MWC LEADERS
San Diego State swimmers rank among the top 21 in the Mountain West Conference in various individual events at the mid-point of the season. Leading the way is senior Kimberlee Frith, who is among the top 10 in a pair of events: fifth in the 200 free (1:52.56) and eighth in the 100 free (52.54). Four other Aztecs ranks among the top 10 in the MWC in their respective events:
Emily Parker - 6th in 500 free (5:02.33)
Jessica Morrill - 7th in 200 breast (2:21.63)
Katie Smith - 9th in 200 back (2:06.37)
Caitlin Atkinson - 10th in 1m diving (267.00)
AZTEC NOTES
*** Of the 20 swimmers currently on the SDSU roster, 13 are either freshmen or sophomores.
*** Freshman Jessica Morrill's mark of 2:21.63 in the 200 breaststroke at the UNLV Winter Invitational on Dec. 18 ranks as the fifth-best time ever by an Aztec swimmer.
*** The meet against Howard on Jan. 19 was San Diego State's final contest at the Kroc Community Center. The SDSU Aquaplex, the school's new facility located behind Tony Gwynn Stadium, is slated to open in early February and will be the team's new home nest season.
LOOKING AHEAD
San Diego State will conclude its 2006-07 campaign at the Mountain West Conference championship meet scheduled for Feb. 21-24 in Oklahoma City.