GREENSBORO, N.C. - Fresno State swim team capped off a successful meet at the Greensboro Aquatics Center for the Toyota U.S. Open Championships.
Aliz Kalmar and Jenna Pulkkinen returned home each with two NCAA 'B' cuts in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. The Bulldogs tallied four podium appearances over the four day meet, 200 Medley Relay (3rd), 400 free relay (2nd) and Aliz Klamar in the 100 breast (2nd) and 200 breast (3rd).
How it happened
Relay's were a quick trip to the podium for the Bulldogs. Fresno State took second in the 200 medley relay to start the U.S. Open and touched right on for third place in the 400 medley.
Aliz Kalmar and Ryley Clark were the first in the pool for individual events the following day. Both Bulldogs qualified into the consolation finals of the 200 IM. Julia Matney made the trip to Greensboro for the solo event of the 100 butterfly. Matney placed 16th overall (56.18) and 8th in the consolation B final.
First championship appearance for the Bulldogs came in the 100 breaststroke with Kalmar and Jenna Pulkkinen. Off the start Kalmar held a close gap to leader UNC's Skyler Smith through the first 50-yards, Kalmar was tied for the third fastest split coming off the second turn. A deep pull-down off the final turn, Kalmar inched closer and grabbed second place with a time of 1:00.56. Pulkkinen held on neck-n-neck with the rest of the field for sixth place (1:01.05). Both earned their first NCAA qualifying cuts of the season.
Luck was on the freshmen's side, set for the bonus C final Clark was scratched into the B final for the 200 back. Now in a position to grab points, the backstroker placed fifth in the consolation 'B' heat, good for 13th in the event. Clark's time of 1:58.15 is a new personal best and puts her at No. 4 in the programs all-time Top 5.
Back for another championship final appearance, Pulkkinen and Kalmar came in the final race of the evening seeded third and fourth, respectively. Leaving it all in the pool, Kalmar touched for the fastest split (29.21) and Pulkkinen right behind (29.53). NCAP's Agee was the new race leader after 100-yards. Both 'Dogs held a strong pace, trailing second and third. It was a tight race all the way to the final touch, Kalmar was separated from first and second by just over three-hundredths of a second. The top two finishers were separated by five one-hundredths of a second.
Notable
Fresno State saw four podium appearances at the U.S. Open
Aliz Kalmar and Jenna Pulkkinen earned NCAA 'B' cuts in the 100 breast & 200 breast
Ryley Clark swam a personal best in the 200 backstroke
Aliz Kalmar sets an updated program record in the 200 breast with a time of 2:10.65
All four Bulldogs scored points in individual swims, Kalmar led the team with 36, Pulkkinen with 13, Clark with 4 and Matney with 1
Up Next: Fresno State will host Pepperdine in a two-day meet on Jan. 10-11 at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
Results
Relays
2nd- 200 Medley Relay - 1:42.07
3rd - 400 Medley Relay - 3:40.24
4th - 200 Free Relay - 1:34.69
Aliz Kalmar
2nd - 100 breast (1:00.56)
3rd - 200 breast (2:10.65)
14th - 200 IM (2:03.87)
Julia Matney
16th - 100 butterfly (56.18)
Ryley Clark
13th - 200 backstroke (1:58.15)
20th - 200 IM (2:04.33)
27th - 100 backstroke (56.64)