Swimming and Diving

Leona Jennings takes first at USD-SDSU pentathlon

Leona Jennings takes first at USD-SDSU pentathlonLeona Jennings takes first at USD-SDSU pentathlon

Sept. 24, 2010

SAN DIEGO - San Diego State sophomore Leona Jennings took top honors in the USD-SDSU pentathlon meet held Friday afternoon at the Aztec Aquaplex. Jennings finished first among the 35 athletes who competed in all five events as the Aztecs captured nine of the top 10 places in the final individual standings. No team scores were kept for the meet.

The pentathlon began with SDSU sophomore Stephanie Koch capturing the 100 freestyle with a time of 51:14. In the process, she established a new Aquaplex record, besting the time of 51:34 that she set as a freshman last season.

Jennings, also a sophomore, then took first place in the next two events: the 100 butterfly (56.25) and 100 backstroke (56.94). Her time in the butterfly is the third-fastest time for any competitor in the thee-year history of the facility.

The 100 breaststroke went to Katelyn Weddle in 1:03.18 as she set a new Aztec record, eclipsing her own 1:03.28 that she recorded last December.

Jennings then completed her day by taking first in the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:05.88, an event in which she set the pool record of 2:04.48 during the 2009-10 campaign.

Three Aztec newcomers also put their names in the Aztec Aquaplex top 10 times listings during the Pentathlon. Australian Kelly Marquenie's mark of 52.20 in the 100 freestyle is the fourth-best time by any athlete at the pool. She also entered the SDSU record book as her time ties for the ninth-fastest ever in the vent by an Aztec swimmer.

Freshman Mikalea Macklin went 53.00 in the 100 free for the 10th-best time Aquaplex and also had the sixth-best mark for the facility in the 100 fly at 57.61. Fellow frosh Berklie Oscarson's 58.02 in the 100 backstroke ranks seventh on the Aquaplex top ten times list.

Leona Jennings' total time of 6:00.48 in the pentathlon was just over eight seconds better than Macklin, who was second in the overall standings with a time of 6:09.08. Newcomer Berklie Oscarson was third in 6:11 .82 with Koch fourth (6:12.32) and Emilee Jennings fifth (6:61.73). (A list of the top 20 individual finishers with total times is available at the bottom of this page.)

San Diego State will now prepare to host its first dual meet of the season when Oregon State visits the Aztec Aquaplex next Saturday, Oct. 2, at noon.

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS (TOP 20)Pl. Swimmer Team Total Time 1. Leona Jennings......SDSU....6:00.48 2. Mikaela Macklin.....SDSU....6:09.08 3. Berklie Oscarson....SDSU....6:11.82 4. Stephanie Koch......SDSU....6:12.32 5. Emilee Jennings.....SDSU....6:16.73 6. Meghan Zimmer.......SDSU....6:17.40 7. Melissa Andruzzi.....USD....6:20.06 8. Alexis McCoy........SDSU....6:22.38 9. Kelly Marquenie.....SDSU....6:23.5710. Melanie Garibaldi...SDSU....6:25.8011. Shaida Solimani.....SDSU....6:27.8712. Katelyn Weddle......SDSU....6:27.9113. Jacquie Kimmmel......USD....6:28.3314. Jessica Crider......SDSU....6:29.0015. Sarah Geerdes........USD....6:30.2816. Kim Bierwith........SDSU....6:31.8417. Lauren Parrett......SDSU....6:33.7818. Eleanor Phillips.....USD....6:37.6119. Kelly Stone..........USD....6:37.7520. Shelley Perkins.....SDSU....6:39.95