Feb. 20, 2014
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - San Diego State set three Mountain West and school records Thursday and moved into second place at the 2014 conference swimming and diving championships being contested at the Palo Alto College Aquatic Center in San Antonio, Texas. The Aztecs' two-day total of 239.5 points puts them 37 behind leader Boise State (276.5) and 23 ahead of third-place Nevada (216).
The finals session began with the SDSU foursome of Anika Apostalon, Chelsea Bailey, Maddy Dalcamo and Whitney Weisz capturing the 200 freestyle relay in a time of 1:28.65. Not only was the mark a new conference and school record. It was also an NCAA `A' qualifying time which means automatic entry into the NCAA Championships at the University of Minnesota next month.
In addition, Apostalon's leadoff leg of 21.91 in that relay bettered the 21.93 that she turned in during the prelims of the 50 freestyle. By doing so she bettered the Conference and school record that she had recorded earlier in the day. Her mark was also an NCAA A cut time. But she was far from finished in the event.
In the finals of the 50 freestyle, Apostalon broke set record for the third time on the day as she won the race with a time of 21.76. She wasn't the only SDSU swimmer of note in the 50 free as Bailey (22.70) and Weisz (22.86) had times that enter the Aztec record book as the second- and third-fastest marks in program history. Both had NCAA `B' cuts meaning provisional entry into the NCAA Championships.
San Diego State's third conference record came in the 200 individual medley when senior Mikaela Macklin went 1:57.61 in the prelims, finishing first and earning an NCAA `B; cut mark. Like Apostalon, Macklin was far from finished setting the record as she came back in the evening finals session to turn in a 1:57.29 to break the standard she had set earlier in the day.
Also earning `B' cut marks in the event were Frida Berggren (2:00.56) and Natilee Ruiz (2:01.10). Their times ranked as the number three and four marks in the SDSU all-time record book respectively as well.
On the diving side, both Ashley Stott (252.27) and Marlee Kersting qualified for the consolation finals on the3-meter board by finishing 14th and 14th respectively in the prelims. Stott then captured second (11th overall) in those consolation finals with a score of 278.49 while Kersting placed sixth (14th overall) with 258.39 points.
Action continues at the conference championship meet on Friday (Feb. 21) with prelims in the 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke getting underway at 11:00 a.m. CT (9:00 a.m. PT). Finals in all five of those events will be held Friday evening.
Live video of Friday's prelim is available by clicking here and live results can be accessed by clicking here. Friday evening's finals will start at 6:30 p.m. CT (4:30 p.m. PT).
TEAM SCORES 1. Boise State.... ..276.5 2. San Diego State. .239.5 3. Nevada........... 216 4. Wyoming... .......160 5. New Mexico. ......140 6. UNLV........ .....131 7. Air Force.... ....126 8. San Jose State ...104 9. Fresno State... ...93 Colorado State.. ..93