Aztecs Lead after Day One at CBU's Rick Rowland Joust
San Diego State finds itself in a familiar perch atop the team standings after a successful performance during the first wave of action Friday at the Rick Rowland Joust on the campus of California Baptist University.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – San Diego State finds itself in a familiar perch atop the team standings after a successful performance during the first wave of action Friday at the Rick Rowland Joust on the campus of California Baptist University.
Through nine swimming-only events, the Aztecs lead the field with 510.5 points, while UC Santa Barbara (461.5 pts) occupies the second spot, followed by the host Lancers (392 pts), Biola (188 pts) and The Master’s University (125 pts).
SDSU captured six outright event titles on Friday and shared another crown at Lancer Aquatics Center, logging 17 top-five placements overall.
The Aztecs opened with a victory in the 400 medley relay, as the combo of Melanie Quinto, Roni Black, Alli Mann and Alyssa Schiller combined for a winning effort of 3:38.57, while SDSU’s “B” squad comprised of Liv Peebles, Elisa Branca, Charlotte Sevin and Kaydence Bispo took third with a clocking of 3:43.18.
Mann was also triumphant in the 50 fly, where she completed a sprint of 24.30, while Gracie Thornton was slotted fourth with a time of 25.10.
Moments later, Quinto emerged triumphant in the 200 free after completing the race at 1:48.65, while Ginger Kiefer (1:49.48) and Sierra Tallman (1:49.82) finished third and fourth, respectively.
The Scarlet and Black continued its victory streak in the 100 back, where Alex Downing claimed the title with a time of 55.26, while Peebles followed in second at 56.29.
As the meet progressed, Black took home another crown in the 100 breast after touching the wall at 1:01.83, while Elisa Branca recorded a third-place swim of 1:03.09.
The Aztecs displayed their tremendous depth with the top-three placers in the 200 fly, where Kiefer struck gold with a personal-best time of 1:58.12, which ranks fifth in program history, while Mann (2:00.26) and Amber Janky (2:00.73) followed in succession.
The 50 free featured a thrilling finish, as Schiller tied UCSB’s Alexi Zuckerman for the top spot after both swimmers completed a sprint of 22.97.
The final event of the day featured a second- and third-place finish by SDSU’s top two entries in the 200 free relay. The Aztecs’ “A” team of Mann, Bispo, Camille Seiley and Schiller clocked in at 1:33.11, while the “B” squad of Quinto, Grace Mering, Tallman and Janky completed the race at 1:35.20.
Earlier, Hannah Campbell was SDSU’s top competitor in the 1,650 free, where she logged an eighth-place swim of 17:50.80, while Julia Reed finished 13th at 19:19.71.
San Diego State looks to build on its lead in the team standings at the Rick Rowland Joust on Saturday, Nov. 7, when it competes in 10 events to wrap up the meet. Day two action gets underway at 11 a.m. PT with the 200 medley relay, followed by the 500 free, 50 breast, 100 free, 200 back, 200 breast, 100 fly, 50 back, 400 IM and 400 free relay.