BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Making the most out of their
final meet at the Hillman Aquatics Center, Roadrunners Rachel McCall (Calgary,
Alberta, National Sport School) and Isabell Nystrom (Stockholm, Sweden,
Limestone College) shined on the Senior Day stage with McCall winning three
events and Nystrom placing first in two to help lead the CSU Bakersfield
women's swimming and diving team in close loses to Cal Baptist and Loyola
Marymount on Saturday.
The 'Runners were edged by Cal Baptist 155-138 and fell to
Loyola Marymount 156-124. CSUB head swimming coach Chris Hansen said he was
very proud of his short-numbered team's effort.
"I am bummed that we lost these two meets. I would want
nothing better than for this team as a whole to end with two wins," Hansen said.
"And to lose so close to both teams with just 12 people on our team when they
both have over 20, it shows where we are going to take these team. If we had
five more summers, we could have ended with two wins."
McCall dominated the pool, winning the 200-yard free style
in 1 minute, 51.73 seconds, took first in the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.33 and
took the 200 breaststroke in 2:23.87. Nystrom took care of the distance for the
'Runners, winning the 500 freestyle in 5:04.93 and the 1,000 free in 10:32.37.
McCall and Nystrom also teamed up with Lily Donohue (Jr., Portland, Ore., Boise
State) and Louise Westergren (Malmo, Sweden, Pro Civitas HS) to win the 400
medley relay by 0.21 seconds with a 3:57.13. Diver Jordan Reed also swept the
diving events for CSUB, winning the 1-meter with a score of 215 points and the
3-meter with a score of 237.20 points.
Hansen noted that he was impressed that Nystrom swam three
events in a row and still did so well.
"Isabell showed some guts today. Rachel was great," Hansen
said. "They are throwing out some great times. I am pumped."
The meet was the final home contest for McCall, Nystrom and
fellow seniors Chelsea Ankeny (Ontario, Calif., Riverside C.C.), Sara Brady
(Tecachapi, Calif., Bakersfield College) and Katrina Thomas (Bakersfield,
Calif., Golden Valley).
"It was bittersweet day. It is a rough class to see go,"
Hansen said. "It is never easy. They are a good bunch of kids. We have two
weeks until our conference championship and we showed we are on track."
The Roadrunners will now begin preparing for the Mountain
Pacific Sports Federation championships Feb. 15-18. The MPSF diving
championships will be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., while the swimming
championships will take place at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park,
Calif.
~www.GoRunners.com~
