The NC State women’s swimming and diving team capped off the first day of of its two-day tri-meet on the west coast in strong fashion as the Pack holds a lead over Southern California and Hawai’i through nine events.
Through day one, the Pack boasts a 125.5-41.5 lead over Hawai’i and a 99-68 triumph over the Trojans. In head-to-head match ups, NC State placed first in all nine events over the Rainbow Wahine and won seven of the events contested against the Trojans.
“The ladies are off to a good start in our meet against two well-coached teams. Our girls are excited- they get to compete in their first tri-meet of the season under the sun in California. It’s a great environment and everyone is eager to get up and compete this weekend,” said head coach Braden Holloway.
“The highlight of the day for the women was Rachel Muller winning the 1,000 free then turning right around and taking first in the 200 free. Both were impressive events to watch and showed what she’s made of.
“Our strength today was the relay events- we have a lot of speed and it showed in both relays. Aside from relays we had some big key wins today in the individual events to put us out in the lead, but have to make sure we continue our success tomorrow. Southern Cal is really strong in several of the events lined up for tomorrow, but will be a good test for our women.”
As relays continue to be a strong focus for the Pack, NC State performed well in Friday’s events as the women finished first and third in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
In the 200 medley relay the squad of Ashlyn Koletic, Kayla Brumbaum, Krista Duffield and Riki Bonnema posted a time of 1:40.23 to win the event, while the team of Lindsay Morrow, Payton Schrum, Mariah Hamil and Christine Kerr placed third with a mark of 1:43.23.
Alexia Zevnik, Natalie Labonge, Lotta Nevalainen and Duffield won the 400 free relay as the group touched the wall in 3:20.96, while the squad of Emmie Barnhill, Courtney Caldwell, Rachel Muller and Kerr posted a mark of 3:24.01 to round out the top three of the event.
Distance freestyle specialist Muller won the 200 and 1,000 free events, as she touched the wall in 1:48.80 in the 200 and stopped the clock at 9:55.66 in the 1,000.
Sprint specialists Bonnema and Koletic earned a one, two finish in the 50 free, as Bonnema swam a 22.80 to notch an NCAA ‘B’ standard mark and Koletic registered a time of 23.31.
Nevalainen and Barnhill finished fourth and fifth with marks of 23.56 and 23.88, respectively, to round out the top five of the event.
Zevnik topped the podium in the 100 backstroke as she recorded a time of 53.90 to tab her first NCAA ‘B’ standard time of the season.
Brumbaum also notched her first NCAA ‘B’ standard time in the 100 breaststroke after posting a mark of 1:01.72 to place first in her respective event.
NC State picked up valuable points in the 200 butterfly as Morgan Carr and Lydia Jones finished second and third in the overall standings of the event. Carr touched the wall in 2:02.89 while Jones notched a mark of 2:04.56, respectively.
Senior Rachel Mumma lead the Pack in the one-meter dive as she earned a score of 251.00 to finish sixth in the overall standings. Junior Gabi McDermott finished right behind Mumma in seventh with a score of 228.25.
NC State will continue competition on the west coast, as the Pack will matchup with Southern California and Hawai’i Saturday at 11 a.m. ET at Uytengsu Aquatic Center.
