No. 19 Sagehens Top No. 15 Athenas in Sixth Street Meet
CLAREMONT, Calif. – This weekend the No. 15 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas made the short walk across the street and took on the No. 19 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens in a two-day meet in Haldeman Pool. The Athenas started off the meet with a strong Friday and held a 61-49 lead through six events, but the Sagehens got the better of the Athenas on Saturday and Pomona-Pitzer won the dual 192-161.
Friday Update – Athenas lead Sagehens 61-49 (through six events)
On Friday afternoon, the Athenas claimed the first four events to build a sizable lead. First it was the team of Jocelyn Crawford (CMC), Claire Bacon-Brenes (SC), Allie Umemoto (SC), and Natalia Orbach-Mandel (HMC) claiming the 400 Medley Relay in a time of 3:54.15.
Following the relay victory for CMS, freshman Mia Syme (CMC) claimed the 500 Free in a time of 5:10.14. Syme out touched the Sagehens' Katherine Lauerman by exactly a second to earn nine important points for the Athenas.
In the 200 IM, the Athenas had five of the six fastest times with Ivy Chen (HMC) getting to the wall first in a time of 2:13.29. Chen finished 1.21 seconds ahead of Lavinya Yap from Pomona-Pitzer.
In the 50 Free Jocelyn Crawford outreached Pomona-Pitzer's Madison Kauahi to win the event by just .03. Crawford finished in a time of 23:64 while Kauahi needed 23.67 to finish the 50-yard race.
Saturday Update – Sagehens defeat Athenas 192-161
In 13 events on Saturday the Athenas won four with Bacon-Brenes highlighting the day for CMS with a pair of NCAA B Cuts in the 100 Breast (1:04.76) and 200 Breast (2:22.51). The relay team of Crawford, Bacon-Brenes, Janet Tran (CMC), and Laura Dickinson (CMC) also claimed an NCAA B cut in the 400 Medley Relay with a time of 1:45.69. They finished less than a second behind the winning Pomona-Pitzer team in the race.
As mentioned, Bacon-Brenes dominated the 100 Breast and 200 Breast. In the 100, she got to the wall in a time of 1:04.76 and was the fastest swimmer in the race by 3.46 seconds. It was much of the same in the 200. She touched the wall in 2:22.51, nearly seven seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. CMS earned valuable points in both races with Bryn Edwards (CMC) taking second in both races. Laura Dickinson () also finished in the top four in both races.
In the three-meter diving competition, senior Maia Presti (SC) edged Pomona-Pitzer's Emma van der Veen by just over a point. Presti finished with a score of 203.62 while van der Veen was right on her heels with 202.58 points.
Mia Syme claimed the 1650 Free with a time of 17:55.27, topping her nearest competitor by 17 seconds. The Athenas also claimed the third-spot in the race with Elizabeth Carrade (CMC) finishing in a time of 18:21.65.
The Athenas will now have over a month to rest and prepare for the second-half of the season that begins on Jan. 5 with the Cal Baptist Distance Meet.