Swimming and Diving

Berggren Leads Aztecs to Pentathlon Win Over USD

Berggren Leads Aztecs to Pentathlon Win Over USDBerggren Leads Aztecs to Pentathlon Win Over USD

Sept. 19, 2014

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. - For the second straight year, SDSU sophomore swimmer Frida Berggren captured the individual title as San Diego defeated the University of San Diego, 33-24, in a pentathlon at the Aztec Aquaplex 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 100 individual medley. Total times in the five swims determined individual placings with the top three finishers from each school scoring points (12-11-10-9-8-7).

Berggren proved to be the meet's most consistent performer over the five events as she finished no lower than fourth in any of the five events. That included a first-place (100 butterfly), one second (100 individual medley), a third in the 100 backstroke and a pair of fourth-place (100 breaststroke, 100 freestyle) finishes. Her win in the 100 fly came in a time of 56.76.

Her total time over the five events of the pentathlon was 4:54.30 as she finished just over a second ahead of fellow Aztec Anika Apostalon (2nd - 4:55.41) and almost five seconds in front of Natilee Ruiz (3rd - 4:59.17).

Berggren's second-place finish in the 100 IM came in 58.44as she placed behind Apostalon, who recorded a time of 58.31. Apostalon also captured the 100 freestyle event in 50.60 and was second in both the 100 fly (56.94) and 100 back (57.57).

In addition to the top three, San Diego state had five others finish among the top eight in total time for the pentathlon: Savannah Miller (4th - 5:02.59), Kate Santilena (5th - 5:05.26), Loreen Whitfield (6th - 5:08.07), Shannon Herman (7th - 5:08.19) and Cecilia Zaccarelli (8th - 5:08.31).

Following the Pentathlon events, the teams swam 50-yard races in each of the four events as well as the 500 freestyle with SDSU swimmers claiming the top times in each race. Miller won the 50 butterfly in 25.19 while Apostalon took the 50 backstroke in 26.72. The 50 breaststroke was captured by Zaccarelli (30.76), whose time in the 100 breast (1:05.18) earlier in the meet ranks as the seventh-fastest ever at the Aztec Aquaplex. Other results included Apostalon winning the 50 free in 23.45 while the 500 free was captured by Berggren with a mark of 5:06.32

San Diego State beings will continue its regular season in three weeks when it travels to Nashville, Tenn., for a pair of double dual meets. On Friday, Oct 10, the Aztecs will be at Vanderbilt to face the Commodores along with Campbell starting at 1:00 p.m. (ET). The next day SDSU will face Vanderbilt again plus Arkansas-Little Rock at 11:00 a.m. (ET).