Jan. 19, 2013
LINCOLN, Neb. - In a meet that came down to the final two events, San Diego State's depth proved to be the deciding factor as it defeated Nebraska, 158-142, in a dual meet at the Devaney Center Natatorium in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday afternoon. With the win the Aztecs improved to 9-1 on the season.
With the Cornhuskers leading 133-131 after 14 of the day's 16 events, San Diego State swimmers stepped up to sweep the top three spots in the 200 individual medley. The Aztec trio of Mikaela Macklin (2:02.41), Leona Jennings (2:05.35) and Melanie Garibaldi (2:07.46) went one-two-three to give SDSU a 147-136 lead.
The 400 freestyle relay team of Gemma Johnson, Maddy Dalcamo, Meghan Zimmer and Whitney Weisz then secured the meet victory with a first-place finish in a time of 3:24.81. That mark was the seventh-fastest time for an Aztec squad in the event.
Macklin's win in the 200 IM was her second of the day as she had earlier captured the 200 breaststroke with a mark of 2:17.78.
Jennings was San Diego State's other double winner as she was victorious in both the 100 and 200 backstroke with times of 5.64 and 2:01.23 respectively.
SDSU's other first-place swimming finishes were turned in by Katelyn Weddle in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.09) and Johnson in the 100 butterfly (54.75). In that 100 butterfly race, Loreen Whitfield went 55.30, a career-best time that ranks fifth in the Aztec record book.
In the diving, junior Anna Steiner took first on the 3-meter board with a score of316.58 and was second on the 1-meter springboard at 286.05. Her mark on the 10meter bard was a career best and ranks second all-time for an Aztec diver.
Up next for the Aztecs is their final dual meet of the season when they make the short trip across town to visit the University of San Diego on Saturday, Jan. 26, at noon at the USD Sports Center. The SDSU divers, meanwhile, will be in Colorado Springs for the Air Force Diving Invitational schedule for Jan. 25-26 at the Academy's Natatorium.