ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s swimming and diving team will compete in its first home meet of the season on Saturday, October 21, hosting the University of Wyoming on at 12 p.m. in the Johnson Center.
Wyoming comes to town following a narrow 150.5 to 149.5 victory against the University of Denver in its only dual meet so far this season, winning seven of the 16 events. The Cowgirls only other event of the season was at Denver for the Denver Relays, where they placed second out of four teams competing. The team is led by standout sophomore diver Karla Contreras, who won two events in the dual meet against Denver. Junior swimmer Samantha Burke also is coming off of a strong weekend, taking the 100-yard backstroke and 50-yard freestyle.
The Lobos are coming off an eventful first weekend of the season, competing in three dual meets in two days. The team bounced back well after a loss to the University of Denver with two dual meet wins against Air Force and Nebraska-Omaha the following day.
The team was headlined by juniors Adriana Palomino and Allyson Concepcion, as Palomino won all five individual events that she participated in, while Concepcion took three of the weekend’s four diving events. Senior Madison Burns and junior Carol De Groote Tavares also had strong weekends, with Burns winning three individual events to kick off her final season as a Lobo.
De Groote Tavares also emerged victorious in both individual events she competed in against Air Force and Nebraska-Omaha after opening the season with a second-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke versus Denver. In addition to their strong individual performances, Palomino, Burns and De Groote Tavares contributed to a combined four top-three finishes in relays, winning one of them.
UNM will also look to continue to build off of impressive performances from its underclassman, as freshman swimmer Matea Sumajstorcic and sophomore diver Valencia McDonald both made strides.
Sumajstorcic won her first collegiate event in just her second competition with a victory in the 200-yard individual medley while also posting a trio of top-three finishes in individual events and contributed to a second-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay on Friday.
McDonald finished third in both three-meter dive events on the weekend, while posting a personal-best score of 242.40 versus Denver.
Be sure to follow UNM Women’s Swimming and Diving on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date throughout the season.