LONG BEACH – The UCSB women’s swim team achieved NCAA ‘B’ cuts in the first two
events of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Swimming and Diving Championships on
Wednesday night at Belmont Plaza.
The Gauchos got the meet off to a strong start as the ‘A’ relay team of Allie Knight, Sophia
Yamauchi, Andrea Ward and Kendall Neely won the 200 medley relay in 1:40.08, almost a full
second faster than second-place UC Davis. The time is the third best in school history and a
NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time.
The ‘B’ relay – which was not allowed to score points – swam the event in 1:43.92, which was
the fifth fastest time of the evening. The team consisted of Mariah Tharp, Paige Bradley,
Miranda Schneider and Monica Garcia.
In the second event of the day, the 800 freestyle relay, the Gaucho ‘A’ team took third with
another NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time: 7:22.23. The UCSB team of Andrea Ward, Katie Tomkinson,
Anne Peanasky and Emma Hunt were edged out by UC Davis (7:15.42) and Cal Poly (7:21.24).
The Gauchos’ relay time is the fourth best in school history.
After two events, UCSB is in second place at the championships with 72 points, just two
points behind first-place UC Davis.
The MPSF Championships, which run through Saturday, will continue on Thursday with the
500 free, 200 individual medley, 50 free, one-meter diving and the 400 medley relay.
