LA JOLLA, Calif. - The No. 1 nationally-ranked UC San Diego swimming and diving team heads to Loyola Marymount on Saturday, Jan. 14 as the women are set to take on the Lions while the men will compete against Cal State Bakersfield at the Burns Aquatics Center in Los Angeles. Action will begin at noon.
The Tritons are coming off their final home meet, a split against No. 3 Grand Canyon University last Saturday at Canyonview Pool. The women finished with a 159-103 victory while the men suffered a 146-116 loss against the Antelopes.
Senior Alex Henley, named the CollegeSwimming.com Swimmer of the Week Wednesday, won three individual events vs. GCU, taking the 200 butterfly (2:05.57), the 200 backstroke (2:04.95) and the 200 IM (2:03.11). Along with Jaclyn Amog, Neda Nguyen and Anji Shakya, Henley also won the 400 medley relay (3:53.25).
Shakya was also a multiple winner against Grand Canyon, taking the 100 freestyle (53.51) and the 200 freestyle (1:54.67), while Emily Adamczyk touched first in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.22) and the 200 breaststroke (2:19.96).
Currently, Henley owns the top times in the country in the 200 free (1:48.73), the 100 back (54.98), the 200 back (1:57.11) and the 400 IM (4:18.67). Adamczyk has the nation's top time in the 200 breast (2:14.42). In addition, the Triton women have the best time in the 800 free relay (7:29.45).
The Triton men were strong in the distance events against the Antelopes. UCSD went 1-2-3 in the 500 free with Matt Herman (4:45.96), Alex Merrill (4:51.90) and Michael Lorch (4:55.52). The Tritons owned the top three spots in the 1000 free as well with Herman first (9:56.75), Jeremy Smith second (9:58.82) and freshman Tyler Henry placing third (10:01.68).
Merrill won the 200 freestyle (1:41.18) and Luke Calkins qualified for the NCAA's in diving, the third Triton diver to qualify for the championships.
Nationally, Nick Korth possesses the top times in the 100 breaststroke (53.70) and the 200 IM (1:47.92), while Herman is the fastest in the 1650 free (15:26.69).
LMU most recently competed at the University of Texas Invitational. Noelani Vargas swam a 2:06.51 in the 200 backstroke, the fourth-best time in LMU history.
Last season, the UCSD women were nipped, 132-130, by the Lions. Henley won two races, the 100 backstroke (57.67) and the 100 butterfly (58.21). Adamczyk placed first in the 200 IM (2:11.06).
After a strong showing at the Arena Invitational in Long Beach in November, the Cal State Bakersfield men are ranked eighth in the most recent CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major Division I Poll. The Roadrunners feature multiple nationally-ranked relay teams as well.
In January of 2011, the UCSD men fell, 169-125, at Cal State Bakersfield's Hillman Aquatics Center. Herman won the 1000 freestyle (9:33.52) and 500 freestyle (4:41.29) events, while Merrill won the 200 free (1:43.60).
Following the competition at LMU, the Tritons remain on the road for a dual at Cal Baptist on Jan. 21 at noon. It will be the final competition prior to the PCSC Championships, which will be held Feb. 8-11 in Long Beach.
- UCSDtritons.com -
