Minneapolis, Minn.----- Gabby Heng's fifth place finish in the 100 freestyle with a personal best time of 49.99 led the way for San Jose State University on the final day of the 2019 Mountain West Women's Swimming and Diving Championship.
Heng was the #7-qualifier for the 100 free final with a 50.26, .03 off her previous career best of 50.23, in the preliminary round.
Heng also turned in San Jose State's fastest split in the 400 freestyle relay. Swimming the third leg, she was clocked in 50.23 as the Spartans finished sixth in 3:22.47, two places ahead of UNLV, and good for the #8 mark on the school's all-time top-10 list.
As it turned out, the Spartans would need every point possible for its eighth place finish in the team standings, its best since finishing sixth in 2016. San Jose State totaled 515.5 points to hold off UNLV, which was credited with 501.5. San Diego State is taking home the team trophy with 1363.5 points.
"We had another great day of competition and I am especially proud of how well the team stepped up tonight to hold eighth place," said San Jose State women's swimming and diving head coach Sage Hopkins, whose team began the final day with a slim 16.5-point advantage over UNLV for eighth.
The 100 freestyle turned out to be the Spartans best individual event on the final day of the championship. Taylor Lehr, 10th, Antoinette Loya, 20th, and Katie McIntee, 23rd, also scored for San Jose State in the event.
Freshman Angelika Yngson and Blanca Saez-Illobre Molianro, 16th and 18th, respectively, in the 200 breaststroke, and Jamie Dodd, 24th, in the 200 freestyle, added to the San Jose State point total.
2019 Mountain West Women's Swimming & Diving Championship
Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, Minneapolis, Minn.
February 23, 2019
Day 4 of 4 Results
Team scores (through 21 events) – 1, San Diego State, 1363.5. 2, Nevada, 1261.5. 3, Boise State, 1159. 4, New Mexico, 792.5. 5, Fresno State, 781.5. 6, Wyoming, 743.5. 7, Colorado State, 636.5. 8, San Jose State, 515.5. 9, UNLV, 501.5. 10, Air Force, 409.
1650 Freestyle – 1, Adriana Palomino, New Mexico, 16:20.53. San Jose State finishers – none entered.
200 backstroke – 1, Abbey Sorensen, Boise State, 1:53.90. San Jose State finishers – 25, Violani Auva'a, 2:02.22. 30, Gabriela Vieira, 2:04.44. 31, Madison Grimes, 2:04.97. 32, Erin Wayman, 2:05.25. 34, Makenna Mathieson, 2:09.75.
100 freestyle – 1, Rebecca Murray, Nevada, 49.11. San Jose State finishers – 5, Gabby Heng, 49.99. 10, Taylor Lehr, 50.57. 20, Antoinette Loya, 50.96. 23, Katie McIntee, 51.17. 27, Brenna Bushey, 51.62. 28, Madelyn Sailors, 51.78. NP, Kimberlee Giggey, x52.85. NP, Maleah Schmidt, x54.52. NP, Katrina Slivkoff, x55.69.
200 Breaststroke – 1, Madison Ward, Colorado State, 2:09.85. San Jose State finishers – 16, Angelika Yngson, 2:19.98. 18, Blanca Saez-Illobre Molinaro, 2:17.99. 29, Kate Hanf, 2:23.22.
200 Butterfly – 1, Zofia Niemczak, Fresno State, 1:58.34. San Jose State finishers – 24, Jamie Dodd, 2:05.56. 32, Kendal Guy, 2:08.40.
Platform diving – 1, Tamara Shmitova, Nevada, 263.30. San Jose State finishers – 27, Natasha Sondeno, 183.85. NP, Eri Tamada, x180.35.
400 freestyle relay – 1, Boise State, 3:17.19. 2, Nevada, 3:19.73. 3, San Diego State, 3:20.40. 4, Wyoming, 3:21.77. 5, New Mexico, 3:22.23. 6, San Jose State (Antoinette Loya, Taylor Lehr, Gabby Heng, Katie McIntee), 3:22.47. 7, Fresno State, 3:23.99. 8, UNLV, 3:24.66. 9, Colorado State, 3:27.97. 10, Air Force, 3:28.30.
x - exhibition