LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State looked impressive in the opening session of the CBU Lancers Winter Invitational as it collected six total first-place finishes on Friday. NM State received top ranking swims in four individual events and two relays on the first day in Riverside, Calif.
SESSION ONE HIGHLIGHTS
· Sophomore
Lindsay Puhalski continued her strong year as she claimed the top spot in both the 50-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley.
· Puhalski's time of 25.23 seconds in the 50 fly was the quickest time for any Aggie this season. · Meanwhile, her time of 2:02.87 in the 200 IM was a personal best and topped her own mark for the season's fastest from any NM State swimmer.
·
Airam Oliva-Aun and
Molly Hill also posted top-five finishes in the 50 fly as Oliva-Aun finished fourth (25.71) and Hill placed fifth (25.96).
· In the first event of the day, the 200 free relay, Oliva-Aun was joined by
Aimee Burton,
Maude Boily-Dufour and
Neza Kocijan to help the Aggies capture the number one time of 1:33.28.
· Boily-Dufour was also one of the Aggies top swimmers on the day as she recorded a season-best time of 25.85 to take first in the 50-yard backstroke and helped the Aggies' 400 medley relay team land the top spot.
· In the 400 medley relay,
Maude Boily-Dufour teamed up with
Aimee Burton,
Rachel Ponte and
Neza Kocijan to reach the wall at 3:45.08.
· Burton and
Skylar Welle were the final two Aggies to outpace their competitors as Burton took first in the 50 free (23.31) and Welle took first in the 50 breast (29.23).
· In the diving events, junior
Italia Aranzabal paced the group as she secured a tenth-place finish in the platform event.
QUOTABLE | HEAD COACH RICK PRATT
"We had some great swims this afternoon despite the outdoor weather and back-to-back races by many," Pratt said. "We had several season-best swims and
Lindsay Puhalski swam a personal best in the 200 IM for her win. Maude was also really impressive with her 100 back leading off with the top time in the WAC and Aimee and Skylar's breaststroke events were very good. Overall, it was an impressive start and I'm excited to move into tomorrow where we will have a busy day."
UP NEXT
The Aggies will be back in the pool at the Lancer Aquatics Center tomorrow morning as they wrap up competition at the CBU Lancers Winter Invitational.
