INDIANAPOLIS – On the final day of the 2017 NCAA Women's Swim & Dive Championships, freshman Silja Kansakoski advanced once again to the finals of her event, receiving her second Honorable Mention All-American status of the weekend.
Kansakoski advanced to her second finals in as many events of the weekend, this time in the 200 breast. Her time in the prelim, finishing 11th, was her fourth fastest time of the season.
In the "B" final, she finished second in the heat, 10th overall, receiving her second consecutive Honorable Mention All-American status. Her finals time was the second fastest of her short collegiate career, just behind her finals time from the Pac-12 championships.
"We had some strong swims to close out the meet," said head swimming coach Bob Bowman. "Silja finished with a very good 200 breast to finish 10th in the nation. Our four freshmen who swam here will rely heavily on this experience moving forward."
In the 400 free relay prelims, Claire Fisch, Ingibjorg Jonsdottir, Kendall Dawson, and Kat Simonovic swam the team's second fastest time of the season (3:17.53) behind their seed time nearly one second faster from Pac-12's (3:16.61). The time also marked the fourth-fastest in school history.
The Pac-12 champion in the platform dive, Mara Aiacoboae, finished ninth in the prelims (264.60), just one spot out of advancement to the main finals and placed first in the consolation finals event (275.50).
For the feat, Aiacoboae also received Honorable Mention All-American honors, her third straight All-America honors after earning accolades her freshman and sophomore seasons.
"Mara did very well but one of her dives put her in a tough spot to make the finals," said head diving coach Mark Bradshaw. "In the consolation finals, she did very well and I'm proud of her. It was a good season for Mara and I'm very happy with how she did."
Kendall Dawson also capped a solid first NCAA championships appearance with her second fastest career 1650 free (16:21.61) and team's second fastest of the season in the prelims. The time was also good for top-five fastest times in ASU history.
"We leave here ranked 29th nationally and with a strong foundation to climb in the standings next year and beyond," Bowman said. "I'm very proud of our women."
The women's side ends the 2016-17 season after making significant strides during the season and crowning their first Pac-12 swim and dive champions in recent history.
Tripling the number of participants competing at NCAA's, ASU loses a large and significant senior class but will welcome Bowman's second recruiting class to Tempe next year.
The men's side heads to Indianapolis next week for the NCAA Division I Men's Swim & Dive Championships (Mar. 23-25).
Kansakoski advanced to her second finals in as many events of the weekend, this time in the 200 breast. Her time in the prelim, finishing 11th, was her fourth fastest time of the season.
In the "B" final, she finished second in the heat, 10th overall, receiving her second consecutive Honorable Mention All-American status. Her finals time was the second fastest of her short collegiate career, just behind her finals time from the Pac-12 championships.
"We had some strong swims to close out the meet," said head swimming coach Bob Bowman. "Silja finished with a very good 200 breast to finish 10th in the nation. Our four freshmen who swam here will rely heavily on this experience moving forward."
Congrats to Silja Kansakoski for earning not one but TWO Honorable Mention All-American accolades this weekend! #BringtheHeat pic.twitter.com/dVabE33H3X
— ASU Swimming&Diving (@ASUSwimDive) March 19, 2017
In the 400 free relay prelims, Claire Fisch, Ingibjorg Jonsdottir, Kendall Dawson, and Kat Simonovic swam the team's second fastest time of the season (3:17.53) behind their seed time nearly one second faster from Pac-12's (3:16.61). The time also marked the fourth-fastest in school history.
The Pac-12 champion in the platform dive, Mara Aiacoboae, finished ninth in the prelims (264.60), just one spot out of advancement to the main finals and placed first in the consolation finals event (275.50).
For the feat, Aiacoboae also received Honorable Mention All-American honors, her third straight All-America honors after earning accolades her freshman and sophomore seasons.
"Mara did very well but one of her dives put her in a tough spot to make the finals," said head diving coach Mark Bradshaw. "In the consolation finals, she did very well and I'm proud of her. It was a good season for Mara and I'm very happy with how she did."
Mara @aiacoboae also received All-America Honorable Mention honors for platform dive, her third straight AA accolades #BringtheHeat pic.twitter.com/NXajCvvctg
— ASU Swimming&Diving (@ASUSwimDive) March 19, 2017
Kendall Dawson also capped a solid first NCAA championships appearance with her second fastest career 1650 free (16:21.61) and team's second fastest of the season in the prelims. The time was also good for top-five fastest times in ASU history.
"We leave here ranked 29th nationally and with a strong foundation to climb in the standings next year and beyond," Bowman said. "I'm very proud of our women."
The women's side ends the 2016-17 season after making significant strides during the season and crowning their first Pac-12 swim and dive champions in recent history.
Tripling the number of participants competing at NCAA's, ASU loses a large and significant senior class but will welcome Bowman's second recruiting class to Tempe next year.
The men's side heads to Indianapolis next week for the NCAA Division I Men's Swim & Dive Championships (Mar. 23-25).