BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- Paola Hernandez paced the Roadrunner women who hosted both the UNLV Rebels and the Fresno State Bulldogs on Tuesday afternoon. Hernandez's two wins led CSU Bakersfield to a 156-143 win over Fresno State while UNLV defeated CSUB 164-129.
“Last year was the first time we ever beat Fresno State,” said Chris Hansen, Bakersfield's Director of Swimming. “With our numbers down this year, I really thought it was going to be a tough one. It was a nice win, a win that we should get, but it was a little surprising. Again, the thing we have to work on is Paola, Lauren Kaufman, Carlee Burks, Michaela Paige, and Delise Batiza is all we are hearing and that's why the meet was closer than it should have been. Dylana Milobar, Lucy Sanderson, and Nicolette Goncalves, in the next couple of weeks, we need to see rise a little bit before we get into Conference.”
Hernandez (So., Lompoc, Calif., Cabrillo HS) picked up wins in both the 100 back and the 200 IM. Her time of 58.06 in the 100 back was a season best by .03. The sophomore broke the school 200 IM record in November and her time on Tuesday of 2:07.46 is her best go at the event since that day. “Paola is a stud,” said Hansen. “It doesn't matter where we are or what kind of meet it is. We depend on her wins and she produces them every time.” Hernandez also posted a second-place finish in the 100 free (51.74)
Batiza (Sr., San Ramon, Calif., Oregon State) also helped the 'Runners with a win in the 1000 free (10:26.34). The time not only lowers the senior's previous season best by almost five seconds, but also moves her up two spots in the WAC rankings. “Delise's 1000 freestyle will rank her in the Top 8 of the WAC,” said Hansen. “If she stays there, she swims the mile at night and that's where we need her to be.”
“We were closer to UNLV than we have been a long time,” said Hansen, who was proud of his team's effort. Paige (Jr., Lompoc, Calif., Cabrillo HS) also helped lead that charge with two second-place finishes (200 free and 500 free) while finishing third in the 100 fly. Her time in the 200 free was her second best of the season. Burks (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) chipped in with a win on the 3m board as the 'Runners went 1-3-4 in the event and 2-3-4 in the 1m.
With the split, the 'Runner dual record moves to 4-5 on the year. The CSUB women will return to action with a quick turnover as they will travel to Los Angeles to compete in a tri meet this weekend. The meet will feature the 'Runners, UC San Diego, and Loyola Marymount on Saturday, Jan. 10.
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