Aztecs Complete Weekend Sweep at Alaska Fairbanks with 121-79 Victory

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – San Diego State swimmers wrapped up their weekend excursion to the 49th State with another convincing performance on Saturday, posting a 121-78 over the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the second straight dual meet between the two schools at Patty Center Pool.

For the second day in a row, the Aztecs swept all 11 races and logged the two fastest times in 10 of those events to raise their record to 5-0 this season and improve to 6-0 all-time vs. the Nanooks.

“Our girls did an amazing job this weekend,” said SDSU associate head coach Joe Spahn. “This trip was a great opportunity to compete in an unfamiliar environment. We’re especially thankful for the Nanooks’ incredible hospitality.”

Reka Nyiradi was a double winner on Saturday, setting a pool record in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:00.83, after recording a winning effort of 10:27.80 in the 1,000 freestyle. Not to be outdone, Mai McKenna established a pool standard as well in the 400 individual medley with a victorious clocking of 4:28.96.

In addition, Eva Allan, Kaydence Bispo, Charlotte Sevin, Alli Mann, Summer West and Christiana Williams also captured event titles, helping the Aztecs notch their 70th consecutive dual-meet victory dating back to Jan. 8, 2018.

Allan claimed top honors in the 200 freestyle after touching the wall at 1:56.31, besting teammate Elisa Branca, whose second-place swim of 1:59.14 was scored as an exhibition.

Likewise, Bispo took home the prize in the 50 freestyle with a sprint of 23.97, edging Moa Bergdahl, who placed second at 24.98, with her result deemed an exhibition.

Along with McKenna’s triumph in the 400 IM, Grace Mering followed in the second spot after completing the distance in 4:38.56, while West followed in the third spot with a time of 4:39.81, with her swim considered an exhibition.

Shortly thereafter, Sevin emerged victorious in the 200 butterfly with a winning performance of 2:08.55, topping Emily Tenczar (2:09.19) and Alex Downing (2:13.68), whose times were scored as exhibitions.

As the morning progressed, Mann grabbed the top spot in the 100 free with a sprint of 51.34, while Elsa Fullerton took third after clocking in at 55.39.

Moments later, Nyiradi registered her record-setting performance in the 200 back, while Liv Peebles took second with a time of 2:03.65, followed by Mering at 2:10.85, with the latter result counting as an exhibition.

The victories continued to pile up in the 500 free, where West completed the distance ahead of the pack at 5:11.29, while Allan’s second-place time of 5:13.16 was considered an exhibition.

SDSU claimed the top three positions in the 200 breaststroke, where Williams snagged the crown with a time of 2:20.08, edging Bergdahl (2:20.79), while Branca (2:24.99) took third.

Along with individual races, the Aztecs also captured both relay events to bookend the meet. The quartet of Peebles, Bergdahl, Sevin and Bispo opened with a victory in the 200 medley relay, posting a winning time of 1:45.99, while the foursome of Downing, Williams, Abby Storm and McKenna finished second with an exhibition mark of 1:49.28.

With the festivities winding down, SDSU also took care of business in the 200 free relay, where the team of Mann, McKenna, Bispo and Peebles emerged triumphant with a time of 1:35.86.

Along with Nyiradi’s and McKenna’s individual records on Saturday, the Aztecs had two relays establish Patty Center Pool standards as well on Friday, including the 400 medley relay team of Peebles, Bergdahl, Nyiradi and Bispo (3:48.33) and the 400 freestyle relay team of Mann, Bispo, Nyiradi and Bergdahl (3:30.04).

San Diego State will take an extended break from the competition pool before returning to action with a full squad next month for the Hawkeye Invitational, Nov. 21-23, in Iowa City, Iowa.