Lobos Come Up Short Against NAU
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The University of New Mexico women’s swimming and diving team competed against Northern Arizona in Flagstaff on Friday where the squad fell to the Lumberjacks by a score of 169-131. Senior Natasha Dark’s scores from both diving platforms were high enough to qualify for NCAA Zone competition as she surpassed the standards of 265 points in the 1-meter and 280 points in the 3-meter.
Despite the loss, the Lobos had several outstanding performances including 18 top-two finishes in the competition. The meet was highlighted by a personal, lifetime-best from Dark who scored an exceptional 300.30 in the 3-meter diving event, good for second place. Dark also had a strong showing in the 1-meter, scoring a 275.33 and finishing second.
The Lobos notched five first-place finishes on the day from standout sophomores Hedda Øritsland and Bryndis Bolladottir, as well as freshman Olivia Bishop and Josie Carpenter. Senior Asami Terada and freshman Nicholle Toh were also part of the 200-yard medley relay squad that took first with a time of 1:45.02.
Øritsland had strong performances in her respective events, notching a first-place finish in the 100-yard fly, touching the wall at 55.04. The sophomore was also a member of the 200-yard medley relay squad that took first with a time of 1:45.02. Øritsland performed well in the 50-yard free, taking second (24.15), in addition to being a member of the 400-yard free relay squad that finished second with a time of 3:31.28.
Sophomore Bolladottir was also able to grab a first-place finish in the 500-yard free, touching the wall at 5:09.65, nearly three seconds before the second-place contender. Bolladottir had a solid showing in the 1000-yard free with a time of 10:35.47, good for second.
Bishop continued her strong start to her inaugural season as a Lobo with impressive performances, stealing first-place in the 200-yard free with a time of 1:52.73, over three seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Bishop also notched a second-place finish in the 100-yard free, touching the wall at 52.35. The standout freshman was also a member of the winning 200-yard medley relay team (1:45.02) and the 400-yard free relay that finished second (3:31.28).
UNM freshman Josie Carpenter captured her first gold medal as a Lobo in the 1000-yard free with a time of 10:34.19.
The Lobos also saw second-place finishes from Terada in the 100-yard breast (1:05.58) and the 200-yard breast (2:24.85), from sophomore Mari Aoki in the 200-yard IM (2:12.04), as well as from Toh in the 100-yard fly (56.50) and 200-yard fly (2:06.92). Freshman Camila Batista grabbed second in the 500-yard free (5:12.97) and freshman Andrea Mariscal Guerra also earned second in the 200-yard back (2:08.31).
The squad is off for a few weeks before heading to Dallas, Texas for the SMU Invitational Nov. 21-23 where it will face SMU, TCU, LSU, Fresno State, Incarnate Word and Missouri State during the three-day competition.