Feb. 2, 2008
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State swimming and diving team (8-4 overall) sent its seniors off with a 156-136 victory over the University of San Diego in the Aztecs' final home meet of the season on Saturday. Senior Brittany Daly and sophomore Jessica Morrill each won a pair of events, while SDSU set new school records on both diving boards.
The Aztecs began the day by capturing the 200 medley relay as Brooke Vessey, Katie Smith, Ana Dowell and Stephanie Henderson swam a SDSU season-best 1:50.22.
Daly then claimed the 1,000 free in a time of 10:39.83, her fastest mark of the year in that event. The Bay Shore, N.Y., native also had a first-place performance in the 500 free with a season-best 5:09.75.
San Diego State went on to sweep the 100 breaststroke, with Morrill taking the top spot in a personal-best time of 1:06.83. Rounding out the top three were senior Christine Graham (1:07.96) and junior Emily Pool (1:09.78). Morrill also went on to claim the 200 breast (2:25.48).
Sophomore Kyla Power, who set a lifetime-best in the 50 free on Jan. 19, established a new personal record of 25.29, en route to capturing the event. She also placed second in the 500 free with a personal-best mark of 5:11.20. Elsewhere, Brooke Vessey had a first-place finish and season-best in the 100 fly (58.71).
SDSU also received stellar performances from senior Katie Smith, who finished second in the 100 (59.86) and 200 (2:10.65) backstroke. Her times in the 100 back and 200 individual medley (2:14.55) were both season-bests.
The Aztec divers also had a phenomenal day as they established new school records in both events. Junior Megan Flanagan took first-place on the 3-meter board with a new SDSU record and NCAA Zone E Diving Regional qualifying score of 300.83. Her mark crushed the previous school record of 265.50, set by Caitlin Atkinson last year. Freshman Keely Brooks was not far behind as she finished with the second-best mark in school history at 277.20, and senior Kathleen Heuring finished third, etching her name in the record books with a score of 267.45.
On the 1-meter board, sophomore Caitlin Atkinson topped her previous personal-best and school record mark of 273.15, with a point total of 280.88. Classmate Kristen Maurer accumulated a NCAA Zone E qualifying score of 266.78, putting her second in the record books, while Brooks established SDSU's third-best mark at 263.85.
San Diego State will take a couple weeks off from competition to prepare for the Mountain West Conference championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., from Feb. 27 to March 1. Atkinson, Flanagan and Maurer will also be competing in the NCAA Zone E Diving Regionals at the same site from March 13-15.