Cougars Defeat Aztecs

PROVO -- Staying undefeated, the BYU women’s swim team defeated San Diego State Thursday night at the Richards Building Pool 194-105. The Cougars now boast an 7-0 record overall and 4-0 in the Mountain West Conference while the Aztecs fall to 10-2 overall and 4-2 in the MWC.

“I was really pleased with the way we raced,” BYU head coach Tim Powers said. “They were a tough team, it wasn’t until Sara Jayne's 100 breast when we really started to pull away.”

Starting off the meet right was the 200-yard medley relay team of Candice Smith, Sara Jayne Christiansen Baldwin, Rachel Grant and Aleesha Miller winning the event with a time of 1:45.70. SDSU’s top relay team was disqualified in the event, giving the Cougars 15 points for the event.

In the longest event of the evening, Michelle Menezes placed second to SDSU’s Melanie Garibaldi (10:21.03), being out-touched by her at the last second. M. Menezes finished with a time of 10:21.49.

In event three on the night, Michelle’s sister, Natasha Menezes won the 200 free with a time of 1:50.53, setting a new BYU pool record after breaking her own record of 1:50.57 set against UNLV at the beginning of the season.

Leona Jennings of SDSU won the second event on the night for the Aztecs with a time of 56.17 in the 100 back, Smith coming in second with a time of 57.29.

Coming through for the Cougars in the 100 breaststroke was Baldwin out-touching SDSU in second with a time of 1:04.20. Katelyn Weddle of SDSU placed second with a time of 1:04.27.

“Sara Jayne is a real competitor,” said Powers. “She really came through for us in the 100 breaststroke and won an event where she was not highly favored.”

Grant next won the 200 fly for the Cougars with a time of 2:01.28. BYU then went into the break with a strong finish in the 50 free, sweeping the first through third places with junior Miller leading the way (23.64), senior Kirsty Ferrell in second (24.03) and freshman Taryn Toolson in third (24.16).

“Us sweeping the 50 free was huge,” said Powers. “Our lead at the break was key in winning the meet.”

The Cougars led 81-50 going into the diving break.

Winning the 3-meter diving for the Cougars was senior Ava Jackman scoring a 317.63 in the event.

Miller next won the 100 free with a time of 51.76 while Candice Smith placed second in the 200 back with a time of 2:03.36, just behind Jennings with a time of 2:03.36.

Freshman Londyn Clawson placed second in the 200 breast for the Cougars with a time of 2:21.74 while N. Menezes won her second event on the night for the Cougars in the 500 free with a time of 5:00.55.

Grant won her second and third events of the night in the 100 fly and 200 IM, with respective times of 56.49 and 2:04.80.

Senior Tawni Jones won the 1-meter event with a score of 311.55 to round out the diving.

To finish the meet Baldwin, N. Menezes, Smith and Miller won the 400 free relay with a time of 3:25.91.

The Cougars will be back in the water Friday at 6 p.m. to take on MWC-foe Colorado State at the Richards Building Pool.