COLLEGE STATION, Texas --- The Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team lived up to its No. 1 ranking with a strong first day at the 2014 Art Adamson Invitational on Thursday at the Student Recreation Natatorium.
The Aggies, who earned the No. 1 spot in the CSCAA Div. I Rankings on Wednesday, were led by eight-time All-American Sarah Henry, who grabbed a pair of individual wins in the 500-yard freestyle and the 200 IM. Henry sped away from the field in the 500 free with a time of 4:38.99, and then took the win in the 200 IM with a time of 1:56.40. Both of Henry's winning times were season-bests and were the nation-leading times (entering Thursday's action).
In the evening finals alone, the Aggies logged one NCAA “A” cut (400-yard medley relay) and 18 “B” cuts.
A&M opened the meet with a strong effort in the 200 free relay with the foursome of senior Sammie Bosma, freshmen Bethany Galat, Kristin Malone and Beryl Gastaldello taking second behind Stanford in a time of 1:29.66.
In the 500 free, in addition to Henry, the Aggies had four more swimmers in the top eight with sophomore Sarah Gibson taking second (4:43.46) and junior Colleen Konetzke, senior Ellen Quirke and freshman Nancy Schuchardt sweeping the 4-6 spots.
The Aggies actually swept the top four spots in the 200 IM. Chasing Henry were Galat (1:56.51), sophomore Sycerika McMahon (1:57.27) and freshman Lisa Bratton (1:57.54). Taking fifth and sixth place were Malone (1:59.41) and junior Ashley McGregor (2:00.05).
Texas A&M had a trio of swimmers in the Championship final of the 50-yard freestyle with Bosma grabbing fourth in 22.17, Gastaldello finishing fifth (22.26) and Galat taking seventh (22.57).
In the three-meter dive, the Aggies took fourth and fifth with sophomores Courtney Hattie (304.55) and Madison Hudkins (304.55).
A&M closed out the night with a runner-up finish in the 400 medley relay with the foursome of Bratton, McMahon, Gastaldello and Bosma touching the wall in 3:33.62.
Texas A&M Women's Results
NCAA cuts in evening finals
200 free relay
Texas A&M (Sammie Bosma, Bethany Galat, Kristin Malone, Beryl Gastaldello)
2nd, 1:29.66 B
500 free
Sarah Henry, 1st, 4:38.99 B (No. 1 in nation)
Sarah Gibson, 2nd, 4:43.46 B (No. 3)
Colleen Konetzke, 4th, 4:44.76 B
Ellen Quirke, 5th, 4:45.54 B
Nancy Schuchardt, 6th, 4:46.86 B
200 IM
Sarah Henry, 1st, 1:56.40 B
Bethany Galat, 2nd, 1:56.51 B
Sycerika McMahon, 3rd, 1:57.27 B
Kristin Malone, 6th, 1:59.41 B
Ashley McGregor, 7th, 2:00.05 B
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Meredith Oliver, 13th, 1:59.42B
50 Free
Sammie Bosma, 4th, 22.17 B
Beryl Gastaldello, 5th, 22.26 B
Bethany Galat, 7th, 22.57 B
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Kristin Malone, 11th, 22.95 B
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Kelli Benjamin, 17th, 22.87 B
Sarah Gibson, 18th, 22.98 B
3-Meter Dive
Courtney Hattie, 4th, 313.40
Madison Hudkins, 5th, 304.55
400-Yard Medley Relay
Texas A&M (Lisa Bratton, Sycerika McMahon, Beryl Gastaldello, Sammie Bosma)
2nd, 3:33.62 A