Feb. 18, 2016
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The San Diego State swimming and diving team remained in third place at the midway point of the four-day Mountain West Championships being contested this week at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. The Aztecs finished the second day of the championships with 213 points as they continue to trial Nevada (284) and Boise State (254.5).
The highlight of the day for SDSU came in the 50 freestyle when senior Taylor Johnson captured first place in the finals with a time of 22.16, a mark that ranks as the second-fastest time in Aztec history.
Fellow Aztec senior Whitney Weisz finished in sixth place overall (22.80) while her time of 2.69 in the prelims goes into the Aztec record book tied for fourth-best all-time. Johnson's and Weisz's times were also NCAA B cuts which provisionally qualify for next month's NCAA Championships.
Junior Samantha Guttmacher also scored points for her team as she placed fourth in the 50 freestyle consolation final in 23.01, the eighth-fastest time ever for an SDSU swimmer.
The Aztecs opened the evening finals session with a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay. The foursome of Johnson, Weisz, Savannah Miller and Guttmacher turned in a 1:29.25, an NCAA B cut mark as well as the third-best time in program history.
The 3-meter diving competition saw a pair of Aztecs advance to the eight-person finals round where Alexandra Caplan (313.80) and Makena Chamoures (306.85) placed sixth and eighth respectively. Caplan's score of 335.75 in the prelims was her best of the season while Chamoures' set a personal best with her score in the finals, a mark that is the sixth-best score ever by an Aztec diver in the vent.
Freshman Francesca Arredondo, who just joined the team at the semester break, was the Aztec lone scorer in the 500 freestyle where she finished fifth in the B final in a time of 4:52.17. That mark ranks as the seventh-fastest ever by an Aztec.
The day's other event, the 200 individual medley, saw Savannah Miller place fifth in the final in 200.50. That mark was an NCAA B cut and goes into th4 SDSU record book as the fourth-fastest. Senior Natilee Ruiz also scored points was she won the B final in a time of 2:00.72.
Action continues on Friday morning with prelims in the 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke set to get underway at 9:00 a.m. (PT). Finals in those events plus the 400 medley relay will take place staring at 4:30 p.m. (PT).
Live video of Friday's prelims is available by clicking here and live results can be accessed by clicking here. Thursday evening's finals will start at 6:30 p.m. CT (4:30 p.m. PT) with live video available by clicking here.
TEAM STANDINGS Team Pts. 1. Nevada............284 2. Boise State.......254.5 3. San Diego State...213 4. UNLV..............161 5. Wyoming...........152 6. San Jose State....126 7. New Mexico.........99.5 8. Air Force..........95 9. Colorado State.....9210. Fresno State.......70