FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State put on a show in the season opener Invitational at the Fresno State Aquatic Center on Friday. Bulldogs' sit in second place after two sessions with 549 points and just 15.5 points behind first place San Diego State. Fresno State claimed four event wins on the first day of the invitational with Mackenzie Miller Lung and Natalia Bedolla having a hand in two of those wins.
How it happened
Fresno State started off strong taking the win in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:41.77 on a team with Sienna Cheng-Lucey, Miller Lung, Hayley Oke and Jenna Pulkkinen. The 'B' relay rounded cut in on the top five taking 4th with a time of 1:44.58.
Oke made quite the debut with a sharp second place finish in the 100 butterfly (56.14) and the 100 backstroke (56.03). Fresno State collected 47 points in the 100 backstroke race after a 2-3-4 finish.
In the 100 breaststroke, Miller Lung held the lead right from the start, pacing the heat by two seconds. The senior dropped a 59.44 on her first breaststroke race as a Bulldogs just three-tenths of a second off from the record (59.19).
Bulldogs trailed just 5.5 points behind the Aztecs leading into the final event of the day, the 800 free relay. A fourth place finish (7:40.21) created a 15 point gap to the Aztecs lead.
In the diving well, Bedolla took the crown in the 3-meter and 1-meter springboard. The senior opened the day with the 3-meter win on a score of 279.45 and closed out the day with the 1-meter with a score of 274.70. Grace Ally finished fourth in the 3-meter (270.35) and third in the 1-meter (252.45). Arianna Pelligra finished in seventh in the 3-meter (259.40) for her first meet as a Bulldog.
Notes
Fresno State sits second after the first day of the invitational
Bulldogs won four events, 200 medley, 3-meter springboard, 100 breaststroke and the 1-meter springboard
Mackenzie Miller Lung grabs her first event win as a 'Dogs in the 100 breaststroke
Natalia Bedolla leads with two individual event wins
Natalia Bedolla leads the Bulldogs with 40 points then Hayley Oke with 39.5 points followed by Aliz Kalmar with 34 points
Four Bulldogs earned points for their team in their debut meet - Clare Luken (10), Mackenzie Miller Lung (15), Hayley Oke (39.5), Arianna Pelligra (17)
Marija Rutkauskaite hit a personal best in the 200 free with a time of 1:51.80
Up next: Fresno State returns to the Aquatic Center for the final session at 10 a.m. streaming live on the Mountain West Network