Four score Big 12 weekly swim honors for Sun Devil Swim and Dive
From top left: Ilya Kharun, Alexia Sotomayor. Bottom left: Kayden Hayes, Miriam Sheehan
IRVING, Texas – Sun Devil Swim and Dive was featured in the weekly awards announced by the Big 12 Conference on Thursday.
Junior Ilya Kharun was tabbed as Men’s Swimmer of the Week by the Big 12 Conference, while junior Miriam Sheehan earned Women’s Swimmer of the Week. In her collegiate debut, Alexia Sotomayor won Women’s Newcomer of the Week and junior diver Kayden Hayes received Women’s Diver of the Week in the team’s first competition of the season.
Kharun earns his seventh career Big 12 Swimmer of the Week honor following a strong season debut with a pool record in the 100 fly at 43.91. He swam the second-fastest 200 fly in ASU history, touching the wall in 1:37.94 en route to winning both of his individual events. The Canadian was part of both winning 200 medley and 400 free relay teams in the men’s dual meet win over UNLV last Friday.
Sheehan wins her first career Big 12 weekly award after winning the 100 back (52.24) and the 100 fly (52.76), as both times were faster than last year's season opener against the Rebels. In the relays, the Iowa native swam a 49.31 100 free leg in the 400 free relay and a 24.25 50 backstroke leg in the 200 medley relay, leading the Maroon and Gold to a win.
Sotomayor made her collegiate debut with a trio of personal bests in the 100 back (53.24), 200 back (1:55.44) and a 50 fly time of 24.57 in the 200 medley relay. The freshman was part of the winning 400 free relay squad with a 100 free split of 50.88.
Kayden Hayes, a junior, earned her first career weekly conference honor with two wins in the 1m diving competition, scoring 264.08 points. She also won the 3m diving competition with 274.58 points. Last season, she won the Big 12 title in 10m platform diving with 251.60 points.
The Sun Devils will race in the All-Arizona Invite in Tucson, Arizona, on Friday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m. MST, when coverage will be available on the team’s social media accounts: X (@ASUSwimDive), Instagram (@Sundevilswimdive).
Big 12 Swimming and Diving Weekly Awards - October 9
Men’s Swimmer of the Week: Ilya Kharun, Arizona State
Men’s Diver of the Week: Marti Llop, BYU
Men’s Newcomer of the Week: Mattia Reina, BYU
Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Miriam Sheehan, Arizona State
Women’s Diver of the Week: Kayden Hayes, Arizona State
Women’s Newcomer of the Week: Alexia Sotomayor, Arizona State