Sept. 10, 2010
SAN DIEGO - In a closely-contested meet pitting members of the San Diego State swimming and diving team against each other, The Red team outlasted the Black squad, 162-153, Friday afternoon at the Aztec Aquaplex. The contest was a chance for the coaches to get an early glimpse of their 2010-11 athletes and an opportunity for the swimmer and divers to experience some friendly competition.
The meet began with all of the swimmers competing in each of the four strokes in 50-ard races. Soph Leon Jennings finished first overall in both the 50 back and 50 free events for the Black team while the Red squad claimed wins by Katelyn Weddle in the 50 breast and Kim Bierwith in the 50 fly.
Newcomer Kelly Marquenie, a freshman from Australia, was impressive in winning both the 1000 free and 200 free events. Her time of 10:15.52 in the 1000 would ranks among the top five in the SDSU record book had this been a competitive meet. Her mark in the 200 free was 1:55.91.
Weddle was also a double winner on the afternoon, claiming victories in both the 100 breast (1:04.20) and 200 breast (2:20.85) events. Melanie Garibaldi recorded a pair of first-place finishes as well with a 4:30.90 in the 400 intermediate medley and a 5:05.12 in the 500 freestyle.
Shaida Solimani, coming off a redshirt sophomore season, captured the 100 backstroke in 1:00.40 while freshman Olivia Sefton took top honors in the 200 butterfly with a mark of 2:14.35. Other top finisher included Senior Allison Hall in the 100 butterfly and Frosh Mikaela Macklin in the 200 IM (2:12.49).
In the diving events, two athletes from each team were paired and took three dives apiece to come up with one diving score both each side. The tandem of Kristen Meier and Hattie Lamping out-dueled the combo of Anna Steiner and Rafaella Suarez in both the 1-meter and three meter events.
San Diego State will get is 2010-11 season underway when it meets the University of San Diego in a pentathlon meet on Friday, Sept. 24, at 2:00 p.m. at the Aztec Aquaplex.