MOSCOW, Idaho-- Paola Hernandez (So., Lompoc, Calif., Cabrillo HS) stood out as the Roadrunner women split a WAC tri-meet against Seattle U and Idaho on Saturday. The 'Runners topped the Redhawks of Seattle U 200-94 but fell to the Vandals 174-126.
Hernandez returned to the impressive form she showed in the season opener against Grand Canyon. The sophomore picked up two individual wins and guided the Roadrunners to a fast, second-place finish in the 400 medley relay. “Paola showed the WAC she isn't playing today,” said Chris Hansen, Director of Swimming at Bakersfield. “She beat conference stud Rachel Millet head to head in both the 200 and 100 free. Paola is on track to do giant things this year.”
The 400 medley relay time of 3:54.43 is the fastest CSUB time in the event this season and was only a little more than two seconds off the Bakersfield all-time Top 5. Individually, Hernandez won the 100 free in a time of 51.67 and the 200 free at 1:51.44, both of which are season-best times for the California native.
Hernandez did not work alone, of course, as Hansen had high praises for many of his student-athletes on Saturday: “The 400 medley relay of Hernandez, Dylana Milobar, Michaela Paige, and Lauren Kaufman was a big time for us this early in the year. Audrey Willoughby and Felicia Zamora swam so great today. They showed up big for us today. We need these two ladies to continue getting better.” Willoughby (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Liberty HS) put up solid times in the 200 and 1000 free while nearly missing a season-best time in the 500 free with a finish of 5:24.79. Zamora (So., Santa Fe, N.M., Albuquerque HS) placed sixth in the 1000 free, fourth in the 100 back, and seventh in the 200 back.
“Carlee Burks and Melissa Gore continue to score big points for us,” said Hansen of his top divers. “Carlee dove great to win both boards.” While Gore (So., Taft, Calif., Taft Union HS) won WAC Women's Diver of the Week last week, Burks (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) returned to top form, winning the 1-meter with a score of 250.27 and the 3-meter with 236.17 points against Idaho's dive team. Burks' score in the lower board topped her previous season best by nearly 25 points and puts the Bakersfield native only 11 points off the Bakersfield all-time Top 5 in the 1-meter.
Despite losing to Idaho, Hansen was optimistic about his women's team's performance: “Nicolette Goncalves, Lauren Kaufman, Delise Batiza, and Michaela Paige all had great swims today! Their leadership continues to help this women's team grow. This is the closest we have been to Idaho ever. They got third last year at the WAC Championships and I think today we showed them we are coming for them. I am really proud of this team.”
The Roadrunner women will take next weekend off to prepare for a big meet Nov. 20-22. The swimmers will head to Monterey Park to take on the Arena Invitational and the divers will take part in the Pomona-Pitzer Diving Invitational on the 22nd in Claremont.
~www.GoRunners.com~
