EAST LOS ANGELES, Calif. - What a difference a year makes.
After a solid 12 weeks of training in a healthier environment, the Golden Eagles "teched up" on limited rest and competed at the Collegiate Winter Invitational at East Los Angeles College against some top-flight competition. After six sessions over three days, CUI wrapped up an efficient and at times, spectacular meet.
On Sunday,
Ryan Burke came up big in her signature event, the 200 butterfly. In third place at the 150 mark, she made her move and turned in a personal best, 2:04.80 grabbing the lone win for the Golden Eagles this weekend. The swim was also her 2nd NCAA "B" qualifying time (after her school record 100 fly the previous night). Burke and freshman
Alice Stainer each have two NCAA "B" qualifying times from this meet.
Aubrie Carver went for a personal best (PB) and the seventh-fastest 200 back in school history in taking sixth in that event and teammate,
Georgia Caraway went a season- best right behind her for 11th place. Alice went a PB in the 100 free, taking 7th overall and
Hailey Garcia went a season best to finish 13th.
In her final race as a CUI Golden Eagle, senior
Bella Garritano swam a smart opening 50 and never got off the gas, posting a 2:28.54 in the 200 breast for her second -astest time in that event.
Jade Hughes, swimming right next to Bella, closed well to finish in 2:32.99. Both were season best times.
The men had some shining moments of their own as
Lanis Webb closed fast from lane one to grab fourth place in the 200 back in a season best time.
Jayden Hernandez, from the same lane, did the same thing in the 200 fly for his season best while
Khang Cao on the other side in lane eight went for a personal record (PR) in the event.
Jon Sutherlin (3rd, 16:33.75) and
Joey Molettieri (5th, 16:50.51 - PB) were tops for CUI in the tough 1650 freestyle. In the 200 breast,
Jack Harris moved from 8th at the 100 to 5th with a powerful back half effort and freshman teammate,
Trevor Dixon powered to a 7th place finish in the same race.
Closing out the meet were a couple of really strong 400 free relays. Alice, Victoria Schachle,
Amelia Brady, and Hailey carried the women's relay to the 10th fastest time in CUI history. On the "B" relay,
Nicole Tormey blasted a 54.0 PB lead off swim. The men's 400 relay saw
Christopher Haygood,
Jack Harris,
Landon McIntire and
Isaiah Phillips exceed expectations with a 3:06.8 effort for 3rd place. Landon swam to a 46.3, Isaiah went 46.8 and on the "B" relay, Joey went a PB, 46.8 and Lanis closed with a 46.9.
For the weekend, the Golden Eagles snared 22 personal best times, earned 20 All-Time CUI top-10 swims, posted 114 season best times (of 146 possible swims), a single victory and four NCAA "B" cuts.
"It took some time for this group to come together. We've pushed past some challenges and burdens from the past, are beginning to understand each other better and I think the trust between the swimmers and coaches was hardened this weekend," explained head coach
Bert Bergen. "It was a FUN meet, a fast one and one that we can now build upon to get ready for PCSC Championships in February."
"This group is special and different and I am excited to see what the next 12 weeks brings," added Bergen. "The Lord showed us a path that was a little foggy back in September. It's a lot clearer now."
The team returns to action for the final time in the 2022 calendar year with a 2-day meet at Chapman University on December 2-3.
CLICK HERE for the updated CUI men's swimming and diving schedule!
CLICK HERE for the updated CUI women's swimming and diving schedule!
