Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
WAC Championships
Swimming and Diving Completes Day Two of WAC Championships
2/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Feb. 28, 2002
SAN ANTONIO, Calif. - Fresno State completed day two of the 2002 Western Athletic Conference Championships on Thursday, Feb. 28, in San Antonio, Texas. The team scored 165 points to put themselves in fourth place heading into the third day of competition.
Once again, the relays set a Fresno State record and this time it was in the 200 free relay. The foursome of freshmen Melissa Johnson, Minja Mickelsen and Jennifer Palmberg and senior Jesie Lewis clocked 1:35.47. The record-breaking time was just a sliver faster than the previous record of 1:35.50 set last year. Together the four rocked back and forth between four, fifth and sixth place before Palmberg and Lewis pushed at the end to retain fourth place. The first event of the day was the 500 free and junior Jessica Klenner led the way for the Bulldogs. She clocked a personal-best time of 5:02.96, while finishing in second place of the second heat in the finals. Overall, her time inked her 10th place. Throughout the heat she battled with Heather Thomas of Nevada, but Thomas touched the pad just one second before Klenner. In the 200 IM, it was freshman Carolyn Wigginton's turn to battle it out for first place in the second heat. This time, the 'Dogs came out with first as Wigginton passed SMU's Laura Barnes and recorded a personal-best time of 2:07.54. Overall, Wigginton finished in 9th place. Prior to the 1-meter dive, Lewis took to the lanes for the 50 free, there she was the Bulldogs' leader heading into the event. She finished sixth overall with a time of 23.86, just 100th of a second off from her season-best time of 23.85, which she clocked in the prelims.
For the divers, freshman Ashleigh Raley was the only Bulldog to advance in the top eight of the 1-meter springboard. Her resulting prelim dive of 251.85 placed her third heading into the finals. Her finals dive earned a score of 246.25 points, to earn fifth place, the highest finish for the 'Dogs individually.
Johnson, Mickelsen and Lewis have each set records in relay events thus far heading into the third day of competition. The Bulldogs will continue with day three beginning Friday, March 1, at 11:00 a.m., with the prelims of the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast and 100 back, as well as the 3-meter springboard at 1 p.m. Finals will begin at 6:30 p.m. Complete results will be available on the WAC website at www.wacsports.com or at www.aaaa-sa.org.
Standings After Day Two
1. SMU (280 pts.)
2. Nevada (261 pts.)
3. Rice (197 pts.)
4. Fresno State (165 pts.)
5. Hawai'i (153 pts.)
6. San Jose State (134 pts.)
Head Coach Daniella Irle (Thoughts on the Meet)
"I want people to understand that this team has 17 freshmen and for them to perform as well as they have is outstanding. Melissa Johnson, Minja Mickelsen and Jennifer Palmberg along with Jesie Lewis set a new record. And although it was only by a sliver, a record is a record and they did it together. I am very proud of the way this team is competing at this meet."
Senior Jesie Lewis (Thoughts on the Record Relay and the 50 Free)
"The four of us stepped up to the blocks feeling very comfortable. I love being the anchor and racing with the three freshmen feels great. They performed outstandingly. It really hurt that I didn't break my record of 23.76 in the 50 free. It's not often that I get upset, but it was my last chance and I guess stuff just happens. But tomorrow is another day and I will be getting prepared for the next relay, the 400 IM."
