Nov. 2, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The San Diego State swimming & diving team ended the opening day of its triple dual meet in Albuquerque with commanding leads against each of its three opponents including host New Mexico (112-36), Colorado State (114-34) and New Mexico State (120-28). Eight of the meet's 16 events were conducted on Friday at the UNM's Seidler Natatorium with the Aztecs claiming first place in seven of those races.
The meet began with SDSU capturing top spot in the 200 freestyle relay as the foursome of Mikaela Macklin, Leona Jennings, Maddy Dalcamo and Chelsea Bailey turned in a time of 1:34.95, a mark that ranks as the sixth-fastest ever for an Aztec squad. The quartet of Whitney Weisz, Taylor Johnson, Gemma Johnson and Meghan Zimmer finished third in 1:36.30, a time that goes into the SDSU record book as the10th-best all-time.
San Diego State then swept the top three spots in the 200 individual medley as Natilee Ruiz (2:06.49), Melanie Garibaldi (2:07.79) and Loreen Whitfield (2:10.55) went one-two-three. The 100 freestyle went to Dalcamo in 52.36 while teammates Meghan Zimmer (53.20) and Weisz (53.41) finished third and fourth respectively.
Other individual winners on the day for the Aztecs included Katelyn Weddle in the 200 backstroke (2:20.62), Gemma Johnson in the 100 butterfly (55.74) and Kelly Marquenie in the 500 freestyle (5:02.36). The only race not claimed by an SDSU swimmer was the 200 backstroke as Garibaldi was second (2:03.64) and Macklin third (2:05.25) in an event that neither athlete swims on a regular basis.
The Aztecs finished Friday's portion of the meet with a victory in the 400 yard medley with the team of Jennings, Weddle, Gemma Johnson and Bailey going 3:47.37 to record the sixth-best time in school history in the event.
The remaining eight events of the triple dual competition will take place on Saturday, Nov. 3, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Complete team scores after eight events are as follows:
San Diego State 112.00, New Mexico 36.00
San Diego State 120.00, New Mexico State 28.00
New Mexico 84.00, New Mexico State 64.00
San Diego State 114.00, Colorado State 34.00
New Mexico 89.00, Colorado State 59.00
New Mexico State 93.50, Colorado State 54.50