Nov. 19, 2015
Monterey Park, Calif. --- Posting a first place finish in the 500 freestyle, senior Riley Spitser achieved a NCAA B standard qualifying mark for the San José State swimming team on the first day of the A3 Performance Invitational on Thursday, November, 19.
"Riley had a great swim tonight, right on her best time. She won the event by over half a pool length," said San José State head coach Sage Hopkins "I think we would have seen her time 1 to 2 seconds faster if she had more of a race on her hands."
Earning the top spot in the preliminary round, Spitser posted a time of 4:46.64 for a first place finish in the final round. Spitser time was only .54 hundredths of a second of her best time set last season at the A3 Invitational.
"Riley has been one of our hardest and most consistent workers and is setting herself up to have a stellar senior year," Hopkins said.
Setting a personal best in the 100 backstroke, sophomore Colleen Humel posted a NCAA B standard qualifying mark swimming the first leg of the 400 medley relay in 54.57 seconds. Humel's pervious personal best was 54.74.
"Colleen had a great swim. She has been our hardest and most focused worker this entire season, so it is no surprise to see her put up a lifetime best performance in the 100 backstroke," Hopkins said.
Joining Humel on the 400 medley relay team were junior Taylor Solorio, sophomore Brenna Bushey and Spitser posted a time of 3:42.94 to finish third behind UCLA and USC.
In the 200 freestyle relay, the Spartans relay team of senior Brynne Beneke, Solorio, Bushey and sophomore Angel Van Hofwegen combined for a mark of 1:34.14 to finish sixth. Beneke placed 12th in the 50 freestyle, finishing in 23.70 seconds.
"I am really pleased with today's results. Our strongest days are tomorrow and Saturday and I'm really looking forward to get things going tomorrow morning."
The Spartans continue at the A3 Performance Invitational on Friday, November 20, with the 400 individual medley being at 9:00 a.m.
by Brian S. Stanley, SJSU athletics media relations student assistant
Day 1 - A3 Performance Invitational Results
Team Scores - 1, UCLA, 367. 2, UC Santa Barbara, 280. 3, UC San Diego, 234.5. 4, Pacific, 204. 5, Hawai'I, 198. 6, San José State, 184. 7, Fresno State, 176. 8. Cal Poly, 144. 9, CSU Bakersfield, 128.5. 10, USC, 112. 11, Loyola Marymount, 98.
200 Freestyle Relay - 1, UCLA A, 1:30.87. 2, USC A, 1:31.20. 3, UC Santa Barbara, 1:32.51. San José State Finishers - 6, San José State A (Brynne Beneke, Taylor Solorio, Brenna Bushey, Angel Van Hofwegen), 1:34.14. Exhibition - San José State B (Gabby Turnbull, Brittany Heng, Lisa Ellis, Marley Maluafiti), 1:36.22.
500 Freestyle - 1, Riley Spitser, San José State, 4:46.64. 2, Bonnie Diamond, Cal Poly, 4:52.97. 3, Kira Webster, Hawai'i, 4:53.16. Other San José State Finishers - 28, Allyson Fellows, 5:05.07. 39, Kendal Guy, 5:15.03. Exhibition - Colleen Humel, 4:58.82. Taylor Lehr, 5:07.92.
200 Individual Medley - 1, Emma Schanz, UCLA, 1:59.69. 2, Franziska Weidner, Hawai'i, 1:59.72. 3, Whitney Jorgensen, Pacific, 2:00.87. San José State Finishers - 13, Alli Davis, 2:06.45. 24, Amanda Buxbaum, 2:09.91. 34, Alyssa Cable, 2:10.66.
50 Freestyle - 1, Linnea Mack, UCLA, 22.52. 2, Caroline McTaggart, UCLA, 22.80. 3, Lauren Vosseler, UC Santa Barbara, 23.27. San José State Finishers - 12, Brynne Beneke, 23.70. 16, Angel Van Hofwegen, 24.28. 17, Taylor Solorio, 23.79. 27, Gabby Turnbull, 23.99. 28, Marley Maluafiti, 24.08. 33, Brenna Bushey, 24.21. 39, Brittany Heng, 24.35. 40, Kimberlee Giggey, 24.36. 82, Natasha Moffitt, 30.76. Exhibition - Lisa Ellis, 24.28. Taylor Lehr, 24.31. Alli Davis, 24.56. Alyssa Cable, 24.65.
400 Medley Relay - 1, UCLA A, 3:35.32. 2, USC A, 3:35.36. 3, San José State A (Colleen Humel, Taylor Solorio, Brenna Bushey, Riley Spitser), 3:42.94. Exhibition - San José State B (Taylor Lehr, Amanda Buxbaum, Angel Van Hofwegen, Brynne Beneke), 3:52.18.