Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Phoenix Invitational
Swimming Wins Phoenix Invitational
1/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Jan. 4, 2004
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Paced by 11 top-three finishes over eight events, Fresno State tallied 362 points to win the Phoenix Invitational Sunday at the Arizona Sports Ranch. North Carolina (242 points) and Toledo (157) finished second and third respectively.
The meet culminated annual holiday training trips for all three teams.
Fresno State junior Melissa Johnson (2:21.29) and sophomore Dana Shaw (2:23.86) placed second and third respectively in the 200 long course freestyle behind North Carolina's Becky Smock (2:17.39) to open the meet. Johnson also won the 100 long course free in 1:02.50 while Shaw clocked a time of 5:10.91 in the 400 long course free to finish third.
FS sophomore Lindsay Palmberg notched the first of her two third place finishes in the second event of the meet, the 100 long course backstroke. Palmberg touched the wall in 1:13.81 to check in behind North Carolina's Bridget Kimmel (1:11.64) and Emily Reardon (1:12.40). Palmberg also placed third in the 100 long course butterfly with a time of 1:12.19.
North Carolina won six of the day's eight events including multi-win performances by Kimmel and Marissa Nilon. Kimmel paced the field in the 100 long course fly with a time of 1:11.26 while Nilon captured the 100 long course breaststroke (1:17.84) and the 200 long course IM (2:31.46). Fresno State junior Jennifer Palmberg won the meet's final event, the 50 free, in 29.08 seconds.
Bulldog sophomores Sarah Batchelor and Nika Nakamoto both garnered their third top three finish of the year. Batchelor placed third in the 100 long course breaststroke with a time of 1:24.83 and Nakamoto swam the third best time in the 50 long course free with a time of 30.31. Freshman Marisa Mathews earned her first career top three finish coming in third in the 100 free with a time of 1:08.78.
The Bulldogs return to action Friday when they travel to Reno for a tri-meet against Nebraska and conference rival Nevada. The contest is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
