Sept. 20, 2013
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -
SDSU freshman swimmer Frida Berggren captured the individual title as San Diego defeated the University of San Diego, 18-6, in a pentathlon at the USD Sports Center Pool Friday afternoon. The Aztecs captured eight of the top ten 10 spots in the final pentathlon individual standings.
The contest consisted of five events including the 100 free, 100 fly, 100 back, 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley. Total times in the five swims determined individual placings with the top three finishers from each school scoring points (9-5-4-3-2-1).
Berggren proved to be the meet's most consistent performer over the five events as she garnered two first-place (100 fly, 200 IM), one second (100 breast) and a pair of fifth-place (100 back, 100 free) finishes. Her wins came with times of 58.08 in the 100 butterfly and 2:08.99 in the 200 individual medley.
Her total time over the five events of the pentathlon was 6:10.88 as she finished just under two seconds ahead of fellow Aztecs Chelsea Bailey (2nd - 6:12.43) and Anika Apostalon (3rd - 6:12.63). SDSDU senior Mikaela Macklin, who had won the Pentathlon vs. USD each of the past two seasons, placed fourth with a total time of 6:15.80.
Berggren's second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke came in 1:09.40 as she placed behind Bailey, who recorded a time of 1:08.47. Apostalon captured the 100 freestyle event in 51.31 as well as the 100 backstroke (57.28).
In addition to the top four, San Diego state had four others finish among the top 10 in total time for the pentathlon: Natilee Ruiz (5th - 6:16.61), Kate Santilena (7th - 6:25.78), Shannon Herman (9th - 6:29.76) and Savannah Miller (10th - 6:32.24)
Following the Pentathlon events, the teams swam 50-yard races in each of the four events with SDSU swimmers claiming the top times in each race. Loreen Whitfield won the 50 butterfly in 26.22 while Apostalon took the 50 backstroke in 27.29. The 50 breaststroke was captured by Bailey (31.82) with Apostalon winning the final race of the afternoon, the 50 free in 24.15.
San Diego State beings will continue its regular season four weeks when it travels to Stockton, Calif., for the annual Pacific Invitational schedule for Friday at Saturday, Oct. 18-19, at the Chris Kjeldsen Pool on the UOP campus.