FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Arizona State women's swim's first Pac-12 individual title since 2012 as well as an NCAA qualifying relay time highlighted the Sun Devils' performance on day three of the 2017 Pac-12 Diving and Women's Swim Championships. To cap the banner day, diving also earned another podium finish in the men's platform.
Despite remaining in sixth place with 491 points, the Sun Devils have surpassed their point total at the same meet from a season ago. Stanford (1126) leads the team total followed by Cal (953) and USC (762) rounding out the top three. In the Territorial Cup battle, Arizona sits in fourth (744).
Saturday marks the final day of the meet and the schedule for the day will be as follows:
11:30 am MT/10:30 am PT – 200 Back (P), 100 Free (P), 200 Breast (P), 200 Fly (P)
1:30 pm MT/12:30 pm PT – Women's Platform (P)
5 pm MT/4 pm PT – 1650 Free (Slowest to Second-Fastest Heats)
7 pm MT/6 pm PT – 1650 Free (Fastest Heat)
7:35 pm MT/6:35 pm PT – 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, Women's Platform, 400 Free Relay
SWIMMING
Not only did newcomer Silja Kansakoski break the ASU record in the 100 breast prelims earlier in the day, she followed it up with not only a faster time but a Pac-12 title (58.44). With the fourth fastest time in the nation in the event this season, Kansakoski became the first conference champion for Arizona State in women's swim since Rebecca Ejdervik in the same event three consecutive years (2010-12).
"We took another big step forward today with our first Pac-12 individual champion," said head swimming coach Bob Bowman. "Silja has really responded to the training program and is a very tenacious racer. Her time is among the nation's best and she was also a key component of our 400 medley relay team which qualified for NCAA's."
ASU also earned an NCAA qualifying standard for their fourth-place finish in the 400 medley relay, finishing in 3:32.88. Ingibjorg Jonsdottir, setting a new PR, Kansakoski, and the captains – Kat Simonovic and Alysha Bush – comprised the relay team.
"We had some other great swims from Ingibjorg Jonsdottir, Kendall Dawson, Kat Simonovic, and Chloe Isleta. I'm very proud of our performances and we are looking to finish the meet with a strong day tomorrow."
In the 400 IM, Chloe Isleta also finished 11th overall with a PR while Marlies Ross finished eighth in the A final. Simonovic finished second in the 200 free B final while Kendall Dawson followed closely behind in fourth.
DIVING
The Sun Devil women earned their first finalist of the weekend after just missing the cut on Thursday as Mara Aiacoboae advanced to the finals, finishing fifth in the women's 3 meter.
"In today's competition, Mara effectively dove consistently in the prelim to get to the finals, which was what she needed to do," said head diving coach Mark Bradshaw.
"Mara dove quite well in the finals but her specialty is platform so I'm very happy and looking forward to that."
In the platform final, ASU racked up another podium finish in Heikki Makikallio (372.15) while freshman Youssef Selim earned a sixth-place finish.
"Youssef and Heikki advanced to the finals and did what they needed to do to get there. In the finals, Youssef is a freshman still trying to find his way. These competitions are unique for him and I thought he did a good job. It was nice to see Heikki on the podium; his score was pretty good considering he was in a position to possibly win but missed that dive."
"We move forward from here and am happy Heikki was able to get better. We have some work left to do qualifying for NCAA's and with the zone meet in a week and a half. Tomorrow, however, is Mara's best event so I see her doing well."
Despite remaining in sixth place with 491 points, the Sun Devils have surpassed their point total at the same meet from a season ago. Stanford (1126) leads the team total followed by Cal (953) and USC (762) rounding out the top three. In the Territorial Cup battle, Arizona sits in fourth (744).
Saturday marks the final day of the meet and the schedule for the day will be as follows:
11:30 am MT/10:30 am PT – 200 Back (P), 100 Free (P), 200 Breast (P), 200 Fly (P)
1:30 pm MT/12:30 pm PT – Women's Platform (P)
5 pm MT/4 pm PT – 1650 Free (Slowest to Second-Fastest Heats)
7 pm MT/6 pm PT – 1650 Free (Fastest Heat)
7:35 pm MT/6:35 pm PT – 200 Back, 100 Free, 200 Breast, 200 Fly, Women's Platform, 400 Free Relay
SWIMMING
Not only did newcomer Silja Kansakoski break the ASU record in the 100 breast prelims earlier in the day, she followed it up with not only a faster time but a Pac-12 title (58.44). With the fourth fastest time in the nation in the event this season, Kansakoski became the first conference champion for Arizona State in women's swim since Rebecca Ejdervik in the same event three consecutive years (2010-12).
Congratulations to @ASUSwimDive's Silja Kansakoski on winning the 100-yard breaststroke at the Pac-12 Swimming and Diving Championships! pic.twitter.com/Cf6NFhr6km
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 25, 2017
"We took another big step forward today with our first Pac-12 individual champion," said head swimming coach Bob Bowman. "Silja has really responded to the training program and is a very tenacious racer. Her time is among the nation's best and she was also a key component of our 400 medley relay team which qualified for NCAA's."
ASU also earned an NCAA qualifying standard for their fourth-place finish in the 400 medley relay, finishing in 3:32.88. Ingibjorg Jonsdottir, setting a new PR, Kansakoski, and the captains – Kat Simonovic and Alysha Bush – comprised the relay team.
"We had some other great swims from Ingibjorg Jonsdottir, Kendall Dawson, Kat Simonovic, and Chloe Isleta. I'm very proud of our performances and we are looking to finish the meet with a strong day tomorrow."
In the 400 IM, Chloe Isleta also finished 11th overall with a PR while Marlies Ross finished eighth in the A final. Simonovic finished second in the 200 free B final while Kendall Dawson followed closely behind in fourth.
DIVING
The Sun Devil women earned their first finalist of the weekend after just missing the cut on Thursday as Mara Aiacoboae advanced to the finals, finishing fifth in the women's 3 meter.
"In today's competition, Mara effectively dove consistently in the prelim to get to the finals, which was what she needed to do," said head diving coach Mark Bradshaw.
"Mara dove quite well in the finals but her specialty is platform so I'm very happy and looking forward to that."
In the platform final, ASU racked up another podium finish in Heikki Makikallio (372.15) while freshman Youssef Selim earned a sixth-place finish.
"Youssef and Heikki advanced to the finals and did what they needed to do to get there. In the finals, Youssef is a freshman still trying to find his way. These competitions are unique for him and I thought he did a good job. It was nice to see Heikki on the podium; his score was pretty good considering he was in a position to possibly win but missed that dive."
"We move forward from here and am happy Heikki was able to get better. We have some work left to do qualifying for NCAA's and with the zone meet in a week and a half. Tomorrow, however, is Mara's best event so I see her doing well."