COLLEGE STATION, Texas --- A pair of Texas A&M swimmers guaranteed their spots at the 2016 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships by achieving NCAA "A" cuts on the first day of the Art Adamson Invitational on Thursday at the Student Recreation Natatorium.
Punching their tickets to the 2016 national meet were sophomores Bethany Galat and Béryl Gastaldello, who both earned All-America honors at the 2015 edition of the NCAA Championships. Galat earned her "A" cut in the 200-yard IM with a lifetime best time of 1:55.22 while finishing second in the race. Gastaldello flirted with her own school record in the 50 freestyle with a victorious time of 21.86, which was still faster than any other Aggie in school history.
The Aggies opened the meet with a runner-up finish in the 200 free relay with the foursome of freshman Lexie Lupton, sophomore Kristin Malone, senior Claire Brandt and Gastaldello touching the wall in 1:29.99.
Junior Sarah Gibson grabbed the victory in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:42.43, and she was closely followed by senior Colleen Konetzke in second (4:43.81) and junior Sycerika McMahon in fourth (4:46.35). All three times were NCAA "B" cuts.
Junior Madison Hudkins was victorious in the three-meter dive with a score of 349.95.
Led by Galat in the 200 IM, the Aggies nabbed four of the top six spots in the Championship final. Sophomore Lisa Bratton placed fourth in 1:57.40, freshman Sydney Pickrem was fifth in 1:57.74 and Malone was sixth in 1:58.58. All three of the top six Aggies posted NCAA "B" cuts. Other Aggies posting "B" cuts in the 200 IM were sophomore Esther Gonzalez (1:59.39), senior Meredith Oliver (1:59.74) and sophomore Jorie Caneta (2:01.32).
Joining Gastaldello in the Championship final of the 50 freestyle were Malone (5th, 22.68 NCAA B cut) and Brandt (8th, 23.30). Also posting "B" cuts in the 50 were Lupton (22.48), Oliver (22.88) and Galat (22.82).
The Aggies closed out the day with a runner-up finish in the 400 medley relay. The foursome of Gastaldello, Galat, Gibson and Malone finished in a "B" cut time of 3:34.01. Posting NCAA "B" cuts in the 100 backstroke from the leadoff leg of the medley relays were Gastaldello (52.42), Bratton (53.33) and Brandt (53.55).
Punching their tickets to the 2016 national meet were sophomores Bethany Galat and Béryl Gastaldello, who both earned All-America honors at the 2015 edition of the NCAA Championships. Galat earned her "A" cut in the 200-yard IM with a lifetime best time of 1:55.22 while finishing second in the race. Gastaldello flirted with her own school record in the 50 freestyle with a victorious time of 21.86, which was still faster than any other Aggie in school history.
The Aggies opened the meet with a runner-up finish in the 200 free relay with the foursome of freshman Lexie Lupton, sophomore Kristin Malone, senior Claire Brandt and Gastaldello touching the wall in 1:29.99.
Junior Sarah Gibson grabbed the victory in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:42.43, and she was closely followed by senior Colleen Konetzke in second (4:43.81) and junior Sycerika McMahon in fourth (4:46.35). All three times were NCAA "B" cuts.
Junior Madison Hudkins was victorious in the three-meter dive with a score of 349.95.
Led by Galat in the 200 IM, the Aggies nabbed four of the top six spots in the Championship final. Sophomore Lisa Bratton placed fourth in 1:57.40, freshman Sydney Pickrem was fifth in 1:57.74 and Malone was sixth in 1:58.58. All three of the top six Aggies posted NCAA "B" cuts. Other Aggies posting "B" cuts in the 200 IM were sophomore Esther Gonzalez (1:59.39), senior Meredith Oliver (1:59.74) and sophomore Jorie Caneta (2:01.32).
Joining Gastaldello in the Championship final of the 50 freestyle were Malone (5th, 22.68 NCAA B cut) and Brandt (8th, 23.30). Also posting "B" cuts in the 50 were Lupton (22.48), Oliver (22.88) and Galat (22.82).
The Aggies closed out the day with a runner-up finish in the 400 medley relay. The foursome of Gastaldello, Galat, Gibson and Malone finished in a "B" cut time of 3:34.01. Posting NCAA "B" cuts in the 100 backstroke from the leadoff leg of the medley relays were Gastaldello (52.42), Bratton (53.33) and Brandt (53.55).