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CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications

Women's Swim & Dive

Popham Wins 500 Free as CSUB Starts Weekend Strong

PRINCETON, N.J. – An individual champion and multiple Top 5 program times highlighted the first day of the Big Al Invitational for the CSU Bakersfield's men's and women's swimming and diving teams. Junior Mikayla Popham posted a big personal best on the way to winning the 500 freestyle in an elite field on Friday while two Roadrunner freshmen posted CSUB Top 5 times on the men's side.

Quotes from Director of Swimming Chris Hansen
  • "This was a big first day for us and tomorrow is definitely our strongest day! So far this meet has been a huge success."
  • "Mikayla breaking the 4:50 mark to win the 500 was huge. This was a big-time swim for Mikayla and her time puts her in a different league."
  • "Vili is the first person to break into our 500 free Top 5 since 2015. I'm know sure if he knows how big of a swim this is. That swim reminded me of CSUB legend Mitchell Huxhold." Huxhold is Bakersfield's last All-American honoree.
CSUB's Top Women
  • Popham's time of 4:49.17 is second-best in CSUB history in the 500 free.
  • She closed out the night with a surprise CSUB Top 5 performance, leading off the 400 medley relay team with a 55.85 100 backstroke time.
  • The native of Sunshine Coast, Australia also placed 11th overall in the 50 free with a time of 23.33, rounding out an extremely busy day for the ironwoman.
  • Jessica Franco continued swimming fast with a personal best time (4:56.55) to place 13th in the 500 free.
  • Hansen also praised the 50 free marks set by Holly DiSimone (23.80, prelims) and Lorena Jerebic (23.95, 200 free relay leadoff).
CSUB's Top Men
  • Sivec earned a fifth-place finish in the 500 free with a of 4:23.89. Just a freshman, Sivec's mark is fifth-best in CSUB history in the event.
  • Sivec also led off the 200 free relay team, along with Antonio Milin, Yigit Saglam, and Arthur Schneider, which placed fourth overall (1:21.05).
  • Saglam, another freshman, led off the 400 medley relay with a 49.31 in the 100 back, fifth-fastest in CSUB history.
  • Milin finished 11th overall in the 50 free with a time of 20.34.
  • In the diving well, Dyson Modica placed 11th on the 1-meter springboard with a score of 257.95 in the finals.
Up Next on the Schedule
  • Day 2 of the Big Al Invitational
  • Saturday, Dec. 3
  • Princeton, N.J.
  • 7 a.m. (PT) swimming prelims, 9 a.m. diving prelims, 3 p.m. finals
Full Results
 
Full Results from the first day of the Big Al Invitational will be available here.
 
~GoRunners.com~
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Players Mentioned

Antonio Milin

Antonio Milin

Breast
6' 0"
Senior
Dyson Modica

Dyson Modica

Dive
5' 11"
Sophomore
Yigit Saglam

Yigit Saglam

Back/Breast/Free
5' 11"
Junior
Arthur Amaral Schneider

Arthur Amaral Schneider

Free
6' 2"
Freshman
Jessica Franco

Jessica Franco

Back/Free
5' 6"
Sophomore
Lorena Jerebic

Lorena Jerebic

Fly/Free
5' 7"
Sophomore
Mikayla Popham

Mikayla Popham

Free
5' 10"
Junior
Holly DiSimone

Holly DiSimone

Breast/Free
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Antonio Milin

Antonio Milin

6' 0"
Senior
Breast
Dyson Modica

Dyson Modica

5' 11"
Sophomore
Dive
Yigit Saglam

Yigit Saglam

5' 11"
Junior
Back/Breast/Free
Arthur Amaral Schneider

Arthur Amaral Schneider

6' 2"
Freshman
Free
Jessica Franco

Jessica Franco

5' 6"
Sophomore
Back/Free
Lorena Jerebic

Lorena Jerebic

5' 7"
Sophomore
Fly/Free
Mikayla Popham

Mikayla Popham

5' 10"
Junior
Free
Holly DiSimone

Holly DiSimone

5' 9"
Freshman
Breast/Free
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