LONG BEACH – Freshmen Andrea Ward and Sophia Yamauchi set school records in the 500 freestyle and 200 individual medley, respectively, on Thursday at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Swimming and Diving Championships, which are being held at Belmont Plaza.
Andrea Ward opened Thursday’s finals by winning the first individual event of the meet – the 500 freestyle – and posted a new UCSB record in the process. Her time of 4:48.60 is a NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time and breaks a 20-year old school record set by Michele Hlinka in 1991 at 4:49.35.
Emma Hunt also scored points in the 500 free, finishing ninth overall and first in the consolation final with a time of 4:55.83, which was the fifth fastest time of the night. Astrid Amsallem (5:00.86) and Monica Garcia (5:01.97) finished 12th and 13th, respectively, and Taylor Munk (5:03.61) took 15th to round out the Gaucho point scorers in the event.
The following event was the 200 individual medley in which the Gauchos captured third through fifth place in the event’s finals. Sophia Yamauchi was the top UCSB finisher with her time of 2:00.24, which is a NCAA ‘B’ cut and a new UCSB school record. The time broke Jen Schwalb’s 2007 record by .32 seconds.
Paige Bradley was the next to touch the wall, coming in at 2:00.69, also a ‘B’ cut. Allie Knight took fifth in 2:02.06. The event was won by UC Davis’ Linda Hermann (1:59.86).
In the 200 IM consolation finals, Laurel Ferguson placed 11th overall in 2:05.44, over a two-second improvement upon her previous season-best time.
Kendall Neely was the Gauchos’ lone finals qualifier in the 50 free and she finished third in 22.81, yet another NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time. Katie Tomkinson won the consolation heat in 23.63 and Anne Peanasky took 15th overall in 24.00 seconds. Kayleigh Foley of UC Davis won the 50 free; she finished in 22.58 seconds.
The final event of the evening was the 400 medley relay. The Gaucho ‘A’ relay team of Allie Knight, Sophia Yamauchi, Andrea Ward and Kendall Neely tooksecond with a mark of 3:42.12, which is a NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time. UC Davis won the event in 3:39.48.
In the one-meter diving prelims, first year diver Missy Burley finished with 158.05 points. Unfortunately, her score did not allow her to advance to the event’s finals.
After two days of competition, UCSB remains in second place behind UC Davis. The Gauchos, who have 227 points, trail the Aggies by 67 points.
The MPSF Swimming and Diving Championships, which run through Saturday, will continue on Friday with the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 200 free relay.
