Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
The Valley Invitational
Prigge, Yoho Spark Strong Invite Start
1/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State swimming and diving program recorded three event victories behind the power of a career-best diving performance by freshman Hannah Prigge. The Dogs sit in second place through the first six events of the 2011 Valley Invitational at Clovis North High School.
The Bulldogs trail Loyola Marymount, who finished with 102 points in Friday's events. Fresno State scored 90 points, followed by San Diego's 86 points, in the three-team invitational.
"I'm very happy with today's showing," third-year head coach Jeanne Fleck said. "Our strongest event is the 50 freestyle and the other events aren't our strongest ones, but the fact that we are right in the middle is a great accomplishment."
Sophomore Dani Yoho sprinted her way to an individual victory in the 50 free with a time of 23.67, just .37 shy of her school record 23.30. She also anchored the Bulldogs' winning 200 Medley Relay of backstroker Heidi Gjoen, breaststroker Britney Vogel and flyer Stephanie Hatayama and Yoho's freestyle that edged LMU by a hundredth of a second for the invite opening race victory with a time of 1:47.20.
Senior Cindy Engle started her final home weekend as a Bulldog with one of most improved showings on the sunny Friday afternoon. She swam a career-best 26.84 in the 50 freestyle to drop over a full second in the quick race. Her previous best time was 28.21.
Vogel also accomplished the best race of her career in the 200 yard Individual Medley (2:10.14) and slashed a half-second off her previous top time (2:10.64).
Prigge, who has been overcoming a shoulder injury, took a huge step forward in the 1-meter diving event as she scored a 269.70 for a first-place finish. Her previous best outing came last weekend at the Bakersfield Quad when she recorded a 247.40.
"We're getting stronger and stronger as the meet goes on," Fleck added. "We're having a great time with this competition and getting terrific experience competing against these teams. Being able to hold this meet is a great honor and it's a great thing for the WAC."
The competition continues tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Clovis North HS with the final two sessions.
This is the third straight year Fresno State, LMU and USD have competed in an invitational with each team taking its turn as the host. Last year, the outcome came down to the final event before San Diego took home the title in a close contest that saw the difference between first and third place separated by only nine points.
The 2011 Valley Invitational marks the final home meet for the Bulldogs of the 2010-11 season and the last expected before the opening of the new on-campus Fresno State Aquatics Center later this spring.
2011 Valley Invitational Standings (After Day 1)
Session 1 Results
1. Loyola Marymount - 102
2. Fresno State - 90
3. San Diego - 86
"We Are Your Team!" --- As winners in three of the past four dual meets, the Bulldogs are hosting the Valley Invitational at Clovis North High School in the last home meet of the season. All fans are asked to wear red or pink for "Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend" and bring new and/or gently worn shoes to donate to "Soles for Souls." The final day of events start at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. Admission is free for all fans.
