Women's Swimming and Diving 1/15/2024 7:31:00 PM

Swim & Dive Earns First Place Tie at Orange County Invitational

Azusa Pacific swim & dive had another successful day in the lanes on Saturday, earning a first place tie at the Orange County Invitational.

IRVINE, Calif. - Azusa Pacific had another strong day in the lanes on Saturday, earning a first place tie with the Golden Eagles of Concordia. The Cougars faced a competitive field of four other teams and earned eight first place finishes on the day. Montana White earned three first place finishes while Marci Yanagawa, Victoria Alfaro, Delanie Gearing, Amanda Anderson and the 400 freestyle relay team all took home first place finishes as well.

The Cougars began the meet with a second place finish in the 200 medley relay with Yanagawa, Anderson, Janelle Ng and Hannah Swailes taking second with a time of 1:51.39, earning 56 points. Melinda Davis, Madison Schneider, Alfaro and Paige Colligan also earned 50 points for Azusa Pacific with a fifth place finish.

White then earned first with a time of 10.19.76 in the 1000 freestyle to earn 32 points, followed by Kya Guikema, Riley Lawler and Alexandra Szolnoki who combined for 81 more points. Aleena Herrera then earned a season best time of 1:56.59 in the 200 freestyle bringing in 27 points for the Cougars. Gearing, Ellie Sivesind and Swailes also combined for 72 more points for Azusa Pacific.

In the 100 backstroke, it was Yanagawa who took home first place and 32 points with a time of 59.40. Sydney Romero and Davina Sharma also earned 48 points for the Cougars. Anderson and Colligan then earned 48 more points in the 100 breaststroke.

Alfaro finished first in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:15.59, collecting 32 points, while Szolnoki and Ng also contributed 53 more points in the event.

With the Cougars having 531 points so far on the day, four more Cougars scored in the lanes for Azusa Pacific in the 50 freestyle. Anderson and Sivesind tied with a time of 25.45, each earning 24.5 points for Azusa Pacific. This was also a personal best time for Anderson in the event. Renee Provencal and Colligan also combined for 29 points.

White came up with her second first place finish of the day in the 100 freestyle and 32 more points with a finishing time of 52.16. Sivesind, Yanagawa and Sharma also combined for 73 points, with Sharma earning a season best time of 57.15.

In the 200 backstroke, it was Davis, Gearing and Romero that combined for 69 points, with Gearing earning a personal best time of 2:25.62. Gearing followed that up with a first place finish and season best time of 2:25.35 in the 200 breaststroke. Gearing and Schneider combined for 55 points in the event.

White completed her third first place finish on the day in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:59.07. Herrera and Guikema finished second and third, with Herrera earning a season best time of 5:14.83. All three combined for 87 points.

Anderson earned a first place finish in the 200 IM, touching the wall at 2:09.51. Anderson, Herrera, Yanagawa and Sharma combined for 112 more points. Ng also earned 25 points for the Cougars in the 100 fly.

Azusa Pacific wrapped up the day with a first place finish in the 400 freestyle relay when Sivesind, Herrera, Guikema and White swam a time of 3:37.13, collecting 64 points. Davis, Sharma, Romero and Provencal also earned 48 points with a fifth place relay finish.

Up Next: The Cougars will compete in their final dual meet of the season at Pepperdine on Saturday, January 27th at 10:00 a.m.