HOUSTON - Fresno State swim and dive team put forth another impressively solid day at the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Championships on Thursday at the CRWC Natatorium. Fresno State stands still in fifth place for the second day with 333 points, just 14 points behind fourth place Washington State.
Three more program records fell on the second day. For the second time in her career, Aliz Kalmar broke the same record, twice at conference championships. Similar to last year's championship when Kalmar broke the 100 breaststroke twice, she followed it up with the 200 IM this year. Jenna Pulkkinen bested her 100 breaststroke program record in a time trial this afternoon for a time of 59.59. The 400 medley adds two new names to the list. Julia Matney and Wiktoria Dabrowska were previous holders and are now joined by Ryley Clark & Aliz Kalmar.
How it happened
The three divers started the morning off with the 3-meter. Grace Ally was looking and earned her back-to-back finals appearance. Ally met the finals cutoff with eighth place and a score of 276.15. Natlia Bedolla finished 19th (237.70) and Parker Connor in 26th (226.35).
Kalmar pushed the limit in the 200 IM to break the program record with a time of 2:00.14. Kalmar broke the record that was set at last season's conference championship by Sera Hanagan. Hanagan secured her place in finals with a time of 2:01.96.
Fresno State sent 12 Bulldogs to Thursday nights finals with six in the 200 IM.
There were a slew of personal and season bests achieved during finals. In the 500 freestyle all three Bulldogs hit personal bests, Riley Baldwin (4:53.87), Laura Kalmar (4:53.66) and Samarah Melia (4:54.42).
Kalmar hit another mark to once again re-break the program record in the 200 IM. Kalmar's new time stands at 1:59.96. The Hungarian swimmer just missed out on podium finish with fourth place and was three tenths off an NCAA 'B' cut. Hanagan closed out the championship heat with eighth place on another personal best time of 2:01.40. First time individual finalist Ryley Clark grabs second place in the bonus heat. Sam Arredondo took 5th and fellow freshman Franzi Djatej took 8th, also in her first appearance.
Speedy does it in the 50 freestyle as Matney takes 14th overall and sixth in the consolation heat, while Dabrowska takes seventh in the bonus heat (23.41) and 23rd in the event.
Ally had one of her best championship performances in the 3-meter springboard, placing a career best fifth. Ally held a spot in the top three through the final dive until the final three divers went, including champion Valentina Arrevelos.
What's another record down for Fresno State? Ryley Clark, Aliz Kalmar, Julia Matney and Wiktoria Dabrowska set a new standard in the 400 Medley Relay with a time of 3:36.90, finishing in 5th place.
Notable
Fresno State is in fifth place after two days with 333 points
Aliz Kalmar broke the program record in the 200 IM in prelims and finals
Grace Ally earned her best career finish in the 3-meter at championships in 5th place
Bulldogs saw two swimmers in a championship final - Aliz Kalmar and Sera Hanagan (200 IM)
Fresno State set a new program record in the 400 medley relay (3:36.90)
Jenna Pulkkinen re-breaks her 100 breaststroke record in a time trial with a time of 59.59
Fresno State saw 12 finalist on Thursday night
Up next: Day three of Mountain West Championships begins at 10:30 a.m. CT / 8:30 a.m. PT with the 100 butterfly, 400 IM, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke. Coverage and results can be found at TheMW.com .
Team Standings
1. UNLV - 403
2. SDSU - 391
3. UNR - 348
4. WSU - 347
5. FST - 333
6. WYO - 321
7. CSU - 250
8. USAFA - 196
9. UNM - 189
10. SJSU - 134