RIVERSIDE, Calif.— Michaela Paige kicked off the second half of the CSU Bakersfield swimming and diving season the right way as the senior swimmer led the Roadrunner women to a big win against Cal Baptist. Mihael Vukic paced the 'Runner men with three victories, but the Lancers edged Bakersfield's men in a tight dual on Saturday.
“Michaela crushed the field in the 200 and 500 freestyle,” said CSUB's Director of Swimming Chris Hansen. “The women really put it together today. I'm really pumped about the way they swam and dove. Mihael was a stud today. I stand by this men's team by saying this is one of the best teams we have had. Unfortunately, we made young mistakes again. The upperclassmen need to lead by example and race with heart.”
The CSUB women defeated the Lancers 208-92 Saturday afternoon behind Paige's strong performance. The senior from Lompoc, Calif. won the 200 free with a time 1:50.16, improving CSUB's previous best time of the season by more than two seconds (1:52.59). Paige went on to win the 500 free (5:00.48) before leading the 400 free relay team to a nine-second victory (3:33.42).
Hansen also noted that the rest of the 'Runner women stepped up in Riverside on Saturday, making specific mention of junior Paola Hernandez and senior Nicolette Goncalves. The pair each pulled off two wins in the dual, with Hernandez taking the 100 free (53.30) and 100 back (59.26) while Goncalves finished first in the 200 back (2:09.60) and 100 fly (58.45).
Freshman Emily Vose also earned a pair of wins in the 200 breast (2:22.46) and the 200 IM (2:09.17). On the diving boards, Carlee Burks and Melissa Gore alternated first- and second-place finishes. The former won the 1-meter board with a score of 235.75 while Gore reset her personal best in the 3-meter (256.88) to earn the victory.
Bakersfield's men dropped a close decision to the Lancers, 158-142, despite Vukic's strong performance. The junior butterfly and freestyle specialist took the 50 free and 100 fly before leading the 'Runner men to a victory in the 400 free relay.
“Lovre Soric, Mario Vasquez, and the Greenwald brothers also stood out,” Hansen said. Soric, a sophomore from Croatia, won the 100 breast with a time of 59.79 and finished second in the 200 IM (1:55.99) despite coming off a long mid-season with the A3 Performance Invitational as well as the US Nationals meet.
Vasquez competed well in a variety of events highlighted by his first-place finish in the 200 backstroke (1:56.18). The sophomore from El Centro, Calif. also placed fourth in the 1000 free and 100 back for CSUB.
Tyler Greenwald and younger brother Brayden Greenwald both earned a win on Saturday with Tyler's coming in the 3-meter. The junior from Henderson, Nev. claimed the victory with a score of 256.95, his second-best of the season. Brayden, who sat out the first-half of the season with a hand injury, won the 1-meter contest with 264.67 points, less than 20 points off of his personal best in the event.
The Roadrunner men's and women's divers will return to action next Saturday, Dec. 19, when they return to Riverside for the Inland Empire Diving Invitational. The women's swimmers will host their final home dual of the season Jan. 2 against San José State before heading to meet Fresno State the next day. The men will rejoin the women for a multi-team dual hosted by UC San Diego Jan. 9.
For full results, times, and points from Saturdays dual, open the PDF with today's results.
~GoRunners.com~
