BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The CSUB men's swim team kicked the day off with a win in the 200 medley relay and rode that performance the remainder of the afternoon, winning seven total events against a solid UC Davis squad. Despite the effort, the Aggies, ranked No. 2 in the latest CollegeSwimming.com/CSCAA Division I Mid-Major Poll, came out on top in a 170-130 final over the No. 11 ranked Roadrunners.
“It's not often that you lose a meet and walk away pleased,” said CSUB Head Coach Chris Hansen. “But the No. 2 team beat the No. 11 team and to come this close is pretty exciting. We were a little of in our diving and distance events, but starting off with the win in the 200 medley relay really got us going.”
The team of Luka Leskur, Chad McKenzie, Matt Parsonage and Kevin Miller won the event in 1:33.62, beating UC Davis' “A” team, which placed second in 1:33.87.
Distance swimmers Bobby Klagge and Adam Pawlowski followed the relay performance with a pair of season best times in the 1000 free. Klagge placed third in 9:51.84 and Pawlowski followed close behind with a fourth-place time of 10:00.21.
The Roadrunners then took first in the next three events beginning with Keenan Natyzak winning the 200 free in 1:42.65, just ahead of the Aggies' Alex Daneke with finished in 1:42.79. Luka Leskur claimed the 100 back in 51.21 and Matt Parsonage took the 100 breast in 57.55, followed closely by teammate Chad McKenzie who placed second in 57.82.
Bakersfield dominated the 50 free, taking first through third. Miller led the way with a time of 21.80, followed by Malcolm Reid at 21.87 and Parsonage at 21.96. Leskur touched the wall just .02 seconds before UC Davis' Jimmy Fong to claim the 200 back in 1:52.68, and Jake Priest rounded out CSUB's first-place finishes with a 4:03.51 victory in the 400 IM.
“Luka had a big meet, winning both back events,” said Hansen. “Matt and Jake both had big time swims for a dual meet, and Bobby and Adam both had season best times in the 1000.”
Jay Jones also had a big day with a 1:54.26 third-place finish in the 200 breast and a personal best time of 2:10.11 in the 200 breast.
The Roadrunners compete in a pair of dual meets next week, beginning with a double-dual with the women's teams at Cal State Northridge on Thursday. Both squads return to the Hillman Aquatics Center on Saturday to face UC Santa Cruz at 1 p.m.
