Jan. 12, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
THIS WEEK
The San Diego State Aztec swimming and diving team hits the road this week for a pair of Mountain West Conference dual meets. On Thursday, Jan. 14, the Aztecs will be in Provo, Utah, to face preseason MWC title favorite Brigham Young at 4:00 p.m. MT). Two days later, SDSU will travel to Salt Lake City to face Utah at 3:00 p.m. (MT).
LAST TIME OUT
The Aztecs improved to 10-1 on the season wins over Boise State and Tulane in a double dual meet at the Aztec Aquaplex on Jan. 7. San Diego State captured first place in seven individual races, one relay and one diving event. The seven individual first-place finishes were all turned in by freshmen.
First-year Aztec Melanie Garibaldi swam a personal season best 10:14.72 to win the 1000 free and doubled her win total on the day by taking the 500 free in 5:01.39. Freshmen Katelyn Weddle captured both the 100 and 200 breast with times of 1:03.61 and 2:17.00 respectively. Freshman Leona Jennings picked up wins in the 100 and 200 back with times of 56.28 and 2:02.29. SDSU's other first-place in the swimming events came courtesy of freshman Stephanie Koch, who went 51.56 in the 100 free.
SDSU's relay win was in the 200 medley relay as the foursome of Leona Jennings, Katelyn Weddle, Brooke Vessey and Emilee Jennings finished in 1:45.23. Sophomore diver Aina Eill notched her top scores of the 2009-10 campaign on both the one-and three-meter boards. Her mark of 234.10 in the three-meter allowed her to capture first place in the event.
VESSEY FLIES IN THE FLY
In the 200 fly at the meet on Jan. 7, junior Brooke Vessey's time of 2:04.90 was her best in three seasons as an Aztec, breaking her previous top mark by over four seconds. Her time goes into the SDSU record book as the third-fastest time in the event in school history.
NEW AQUAPLEX RECORDS
Two SDSU swimmers established new Aztec Aquaplex records during the double dual meet on Jan. 7 with each bettering the previous facility record that she set earlier in the season. Katelyn Weddle's time of 2:17.00 in the 200 breast was a new Aquaplex record by breaking the old mark of 2:17.97 which she set in SDSU's previous meet on Dec. 19. Stephanie Koch, who went 51.56 in the 100 free, bettered the facility record (51.60) that she set in the last home meet (Dec. 19).
AZTECS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
San Diego State has moved up to 34th in the December national poll released by the Collegiate Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). The Aztecs had been ranked 41st in the November poll, marking the first time the program had ever received votes in the national poll. The CSCAA will release its poll twice monthly beginning in January.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
After a 8-0 start in home dual-meets this fall, SDSU's record at the Aztec Aquaplex stands at 17-3 since the facility opened in the spring of 2008. The Aztecs finished 3-0 during the season in which the facility opened (2007-08) and went 6-3 last year. All three losses at the Aquaplex have come in conference action. Counting this week's contests, San Diego State has two home dual meets remaining on its schedule.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Freshmen Leona Jennings and Katelyn Weddle have recorded times this fall that rank among the top 50 in the nation this season. Jennings' nationally ranked times include 54.22 in the 100 back (14th), 1:57.57 in the 200 back (21st) and 2:01.04 in the 200 individual medley (35th). Weddle has turned in marks of 1:01.45 in the 100 breast (10th) and 2:14 20 in the 200 breast (20th). All five of those times meet the 'B' Qualifying Standard for the NCAA Championships next March.
In addition, three Aztec relay teams have recorded times that rank among the top 30 in the country in Division I this fall. The 800 free relay foursome of Stephanie Koch, Meghan Zimmer, Petra Radovic and Jessica Crider have turned in a 7:26.35 to rank 27th nationally. In the 200 medley relay, Leona Jennings, Katelyn Weddle, Kim Bierwith and Stephanie Koch's mark of 1:41.93 is the 23rd-best time in Division I. And the 400 medley quartet of Stephanie Koch, Leona Jennings, Emilee Jennings and Kim Bierwith ranks 28th with a mark of 3:44.42. The 800 free and 200 medley teams have met the 'B' Qualifying Standard as well.
ON DECK
Following Saturday's meet at Utah, San Diego State will have a two-week break before it resumes Mountain West Conference action when it travels to Laramie, Wyo., to face the University of Wyoming on Friday, Jan. 29, at 5:00 p.m. (MT). The following afternoon (Saturday, Jan. 30), the Aztecs will be in Greeley, Colo., to face Northern Colorado at 1:00 p.m. (MT).