AZTECS SWIM AND DIVE TOPS USD IN HOME OPENER

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 10, 2020 (San Diego) -  The San Diego State swimming and diving team topped the University of San Diego Toreros in a Pentathlon 33-24 to open home competition for the 2020-21 season Thursday.

Aztec senior Klara Thormalm earned the fastest finish in the five-event competition, completing the pentathlon in 4:58.78. Junior Kristina Murphy placed second with a total time of 5:00.27, and fellow junior Sammy Geyer rounded out podium finishers with a time of 5:02.18.

While not earning a top-three overall finish, junior Mia Ryan impressed in her 2020-21 home debut, swimming the fastest 100 free with a time of 52.02 and the fastest 100 fly with a time of 58.62. Ryan also finished third in the 100 IM with a time of 1:00.29.

Geyer finished first in the 100 breast with a time of 1:04.65 and senior Larisa Tam touched the wall first in the 100 IM with a time of 1:00.05, a career-best in the event. Thormalm topped the competition in the 100 back with a time of 59.46, her career-best mark by almost two seconds.  

Freshman Alex Roberts, placing sixth overall in the event, collected impressive finishes in the 100 backstroke and 100 IM. Roberts swam the fourth-fastest 100 back with a time of 1:01.37 and finished sixth in the 100 IM with a time of 1:03.08.

SDSU’s divers, not scored within the pentathlon system, saw success on the springboard Friday as junior Ximena Lechuga Gonzalez swept both the 1 and 3-meter competition wins. Lechuga Gonzales broke the 300-point barrier on the 1-meter with a score of 300.30 and finished .23 points above fellow junior Gina Cazares to take home first place in the 3-meter competition. Cazares finished second in both events behind Lechuga Gonzalez, collecting 257.77 points on the 1-meter springboard and 281.25 points in her 3-meter diving efforts.

The Scarlet and Black have a 36-day break before hitting the water again, next competing in a dual meet at Pepperdine Jan. 15, 2021.