LOS ANGELES – With the first night of the 2015 MPSF Championships underway, UC Santa Barbara has certainly proved its strength and depth in two relay swims from both the men and women. The men took home first and second place finishes, while the women took home second and sixth place.
In the women’s 200 medley relay (1:40.67) freshman Allie Stevens had the fastest backstroke split of the entire heat by over half a second, getting the Gauchos off to an early lead with a 25.14. Carissa Metcalf (28.24) followed with breaststroke, Kimmie Kreuzberger (25.09) with butterfly, and finally a sizzling fast freestyle anchor split from Lauren Vosseler (22.20). This “A” relay took second in the heat, while the UCSB “C” and “B” relays took one-two in the consolation heat, respectively.
For the men’s 200 medley relay, freshman Billy Mullis (22.44) led off with the second fastest backstroke split. Next up Andy Castilleja (24.46) swam the breaststroke, then Yoessef Tibazi (21.24) in the butterfly. Wade Allen (19.00) anchored the relay with one of the fastest relay splits in UCSB swimming history, helping the Gauchos to a second place finish.
The women lost a bit of ground in the 800 freestyle relay, coming in sixth. Heren Alanis (1:50.58) led off, followed by Kimmie Kreuzberger (1:54.22), Micaela Velasquez (1:51.59), and lastly Hollace Barden (1:50.33).
The men redeemed the Gaucho spirit with a big victory in the men’s 800 freestyle relay. Their time of 6:29.00 was less than half a second off the MPSF meet record. Dylan Kubick (1:36.16) started off, followed by Billy Mullis (1:36.76), Clayton Young (1:37.99), and anchoring, Chase Lemley (1:38.09).
Tomorrow the Gauchos will compete in the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, and 200 freestyle relay
