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Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
January 6, 2024 (San Diego) - he calendar may have flipped pages, but for the San Diego State swim and dive program, the results remain constant after the Aztecs posted a pair of victories over Cal State East Bay (132-118) and Concordia University Irvine (136.50-113.50) in a double dual meet Friday at Aztec Aquaplex.
With the decisions, SDSU extends its winning streak to 58 consecutive dual meets and is three days shy of six years since its last defeat, a 153-147 setback at the hands of Colorado State on Jan. 8, 2018.
The Scarlet and Black posted the fastest times in all 14 races and were awarded victories in nine to raise its record to 8-0 in dual-meet competition this season.
Individually, the Aztecs were led by Avery Turney and Reka Nyiradi, who captured two event titles that counted towards the host school’s team score, while Raya Embury-Brown, Meredith Smithbaker, Rachel Hubka, Christiana Williams, Riley Tapley, Paige Mitchell and Mai McKenna also emerged triumphant to highlight the SDSU’s tremendous depth.
The Aztecs’ balance was on full display in the first race of the day, posting the top three time in the 200 medley relay, including the combo of Evonne Stehr, Moa Bergdahl, Tapley and Smithbaker, who joined forces for a winning effort of 1:43.68, while the team of Alex Roberts, Williams, McKenna and Turney finished second at 1:44.66.
In addition, the foursome of Abby Storm, Liberty Edwards, Wilma Johansson and Hubka combined for a third-place clocking of 1:49.29, which was scored as an exhibition.
SDSU logged a 1-2 finish in the 1,000 freestyle, as Raya Embury-Brown touched the wall with a season-fast 10:53.75, edging teammate Emily Allen, whose time of 10:53.97 marked a collegiate best.
The Aztecs kept the momentum in the 200 freestyle, where Turney completed the race with a winning performance of 1:55.00, while Mitchell (1:57.29) tied for third, followed by Alyssa Schiller (1:58.13), who took fifth.
Moments later, Tapley was triumphant in the 100 backstroke at 57.00, while Williams was fifth with a season-fast 1:00.47.
As the meet progressed, the Scarlet and Black kept the momentum rolling with a strong showing in the 100 breaststroke. Smithbaker led the pack with a winning time of 1:03.50, while McKenna placed second with a collegiate-fast 1:07.53, followed by Roberts (1:09.46) and Edwards (1:09.46), who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with the latter’s result scored as an exhibition.
Shortly thereafter, SDSU grabbed the top three spots in the 100 butterfly, where Nyiradi completed a victorious swim of 2:01.69, while Charlotte Sevin (2:07.43) edged Emily Tenczar (2:07.84) for second place.
Heading into the meet’s intermission, Hubka claimed the top prize in the 50 freestyle after touching the wall at 23.46, while Stehr logged a second-place effort of 24.22.
Following the break, the Aztecs’ dominance continued in 100 freestyle, as the Scarlet Black recorded four of the top-five results, including Turney, who logged her second win of the day at 52.50, while Schiller (53.31), Johansson (53.68) and Hubka (54.00) were slotted third, fourth and fifth, respectively, with the latter’s time deemed an exhibition.
Likewise, Nyiradi claimed her second event crown in the 200 backstroke with a clocking of 2:01.44, while Tapley touched the wall at 2:05.53 to finish second.
With another pair of sizable leads on the team scoreboard, the Aztecs' results in the final five events of the meet were scored as exhibitions.
That didn’t prevent the Scarlet and Black from boasting the top three times in the 200 breaststroke, where Williams bested the field with a time of 2:15.94, followed by Bergdahl (2:20.10) and Smithbaker (2:23.38).
SDSU maintained a familiar trend in the 500 freestyle, where Mitchell registered the fastest time in the event with a clocking of 5:13.69, followed by Allen’s second-place swim of 5:19.47.
The Aztecs duplicated the 1-2 finish in the final two individual races of the day, including the 100 butterfly, where McKenna (56.25) and Johansson (57.46) set season bests.
Later in the 200 individual medley, Nyiradi collected her third victory of the meet, although her time of 2:06.34 was considered an exhibition, as was Stehr’s second-place performance of 2:08.69.
Fittingly, SDSU ended Friday’s docket by recording the three fastest swims in the 400 freestyle relay. The team of Smithbaker, McKenna, Bergdahl and Storm combined for a winning time of 3:31.32, while the foursome of Turney, Allen, Tenczar and Johansson was second at 3:35.18, followed by the third-place grouping of Schiller, Mitchell, Williams and Nyiradi (3:36.78).
San Diego State continues its busy stretch on Monday, Jan. 8, when it plays host to Alaska Fairbanks, Loyola Marymount and Fresno State in a quad meet at Aztec Aquaplex. UAF will remain in “America’s Finest City” to face the Aztecs in a dual meet the following day, Jan. 9. Both competitions are slated for a 10 a.m. start.
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