Bacon-Brenes Breaks a Pair of Pool Records in Victory over LMU

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Sophomore Claire Bacon-Brenes (SC) broke the Axelrood Pool records in both the 100 and 200 Breaststroke on Saturday afternoon in a dual against Division I Loyola Marymount University. The Athenas handled the visiting Lions 189-73 with CMS winning 12 of the 14 events contested on the day.

Bacon-Brenes finished the 100 Breast in a time of 1:04.85, winning the event by over four seconds and breaking her own pool record of 1:05.21 that she set last season on Feb. 4, 2017. She set her second pool record of the day in the 200 Breast with a time of 2:21.91. Her time broke the record held by Annie Perizzolo (2:22.61 – Jan. 26, 2008), the 2010 National Champion in the 100 and 200 Breast.

In addition to the record breaking day from Bacon-Brenes, the Athenas had two other swimmers win multiple events. Mia Syme (CMC) claimed both the 1000 and 500 Free in times of 10:36.08 and 5:13.17, respectively. Syme was close to setting a pool record in the 1000 Free, finishing less than two seconds off the record time of 10:34.17.

Natalia Orbach-Mandel (HMC) also won a pair of events in impressive fashion. She claimed the 50 and 100 Free in consecutive events. First Orbach-Mandel out touched Loyola Marymount's Marley Abbott in the 50 Free with a time of 24.25. She finished less than three tenths of a second ahead of Abbott to claim the sprint. Just moments later, Orbach-Mandel won the 100 Free in a time of 53.22 for her second-straight victory.

The Athenas turned in impressive team showings in the 100 Back, 200 Fly, 100 Fly, and 200 IM. In all three events, CMS posted the top three times. Ivy Chen (HMC) claimed the 100 Back with a time of 59.72 and teammates Anne Jang and Elena Kovachevich finished in second and third.

Lauren Rosenberger (CMC) won the 200 Fly in 2:13.82 with Allie Umemoto (SC) and Shannon Steele (CMC) right on her heels in second and third. After finishing second in the 200 Fly, Umemoto claimed the 100 Fly with a time of 58.62. Janet Tran (CMC) and Chen took second and third in the race.

The 200 IM went to Emma Stacy (SC) with a time of 2:13.79, but again a pair of Athenas were right behind Stacy giving CMS the top three spots. This time it was Crystal Yang (HMC) and Jang finishing in second and third.

Liv Baker (CMC) claimed the 200 Back with a time of 2:10.01, finishing 1.60 seconds ahead of second place.

The Athenas also took the top two spots in the 200 Free Relay. The team of Umemoto, Tran, Laura Dickinson (CMC), and Orbach-Mandel took the race with a time of 1:38.60.

Saturday's meet wraps up the home schedule for the Athenas in 2017-18. CMS will travel to Chapman on Feb. 3 to round out the regular season before competing in the SCIAC Championships from Feb. 21-24.