COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team tallied over a dozen NCAA qualifying cuts and won four races on day two of the Art Adamson Invitational on Thursday at the Student Recreation Natatorium.
Senior Sydney Pickrem won a pair of individual races and was on a winning relay while also tallying her second NCAA "A" cut of the meet. Also winning races for the Aggies were senior Claire Rasmus and the 800-yard freestyle relay.
With a second strong day, the Aggies lead the team standings with 1,009 points. Trailing the Aggies are LSU (458.5 points), Boise State (422) and Hawaii (420.5).
Head coach Steve Bultman said:
"We had some really good solid swims today. We had some really good times in the 400 IM with the freshmen coming out and stepping up. Sydney (Pickrem) came out strong in the 100 breaststroke and had a really good close race with Anna (Belousova) so that was fun to see. We had our girls go out there and swim fast, and with it being the middle day of the invitational I am pleased with our team."
200 Medley Relay
The Texas A&M foursome of freshman Amanda Armstrong, junior Victoria Roubique, sophomore Jing Quah and junior Katie Portz placed third in a time of 1:39.96.
400 IM
Continuing to build its tradition of dominance in the IM, the Aggies swept the top five spots in the 400 IM. Senior Sydney Pickrem outclassed the field while logging the second NCAA "A" cut of the meet with a time of 4:01.73. Pickrem, last year's SEC Swimmer of the Year, was trailed by senior Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo (4:07.51), sophomore Camryn Toney (4:10.22), freshman Caroline Theil (4:14.42) and freshman Mollie Wright (4:17.30), who all achieved "B" qualifying cuts. Aggies posting "B" cuts in the prelims but not swimming in the evening finals were junior Anna Belousova (4:13.56) and sophomore Haley Yelle (4:15.52).
100 Butterfly
Tallying NCAA "B" cuts in the 100 butterfly were sophomore Taylor Pike (52.99), sophomore Jing Quah (53.18) and junior Katie Portz (53.36).
200 Freestyle
The Aggies claimed the top two spots in the 200 freestyle with defending SEC Champion Claire Rasmus touching first in 1:44.22 with junior Katie Portz right behind in 1:45.19. Also achieving a "B" cut was sophomore Haley Yelle with a time of 1:46.49 while placing fourth.
100 Breaststroke
Sydney Pickrem tallied her second victory of the night as she out-dueled teammate and 2018 SEC 100 breaststroke champion Anna Belousova by .03 of a second, 59.30 to 59.33. Also tallying "B" cuts were junior Victoria Roubique (3rd place, 1:00.25) and freshman Kylie Powers (5th, 1:00.59).
100 Backstroke
The Aggies' top finisher in the 100 backstroke was junior Sara Metzsch in fourth place with a time of 53.97.
800 Free Relay
Texas A&M, the SEC 800 free relay champions the past two seasons, outclassed the field at the Art Adamson Invitational. The foursome of senior Sydney Pickrem, junior Katie Portz, sophomore Haley Yelle and senior Claire Rasmus touched in 7:04.47, which was nearly 10 seconds faster than the runner-up finishers.
Senior Sydney Pickrem won a pair of individual races and was on a winning relay while also tallying her second NCAA "A" cut of the meet. Also winning races for the Aggies were senior Claire Rasmus and the 800-yard freestyle relay.
With a second strong day, the Aggies lead the team standings with 1,009 points. Trailing the Aggies are LSU (458.5 points), Boise State (422) and Hawaii (420.5).
Head coach Steve Bultman said:
"We had some really good solid swims today. We had some really good times in the 400 IM with the freshmen coming out and stepping up. Sydney (Pickrem) came out strong in the 100 breaststroke and had a really good close race with Anna (Belousova) so that was fun to see. We had our girls go out there and swim fast, and with it being the middle day of the invitational I am pleased with our team."
200 Medley Relay
The Texas A&M foursome of freshman Amanda Armstrong, junior Victoria Roubique, sophomore Jing Quah and junior Katie Portz placed third in a time of 1:39.96.
400 IM
Continuing to build its tradition of dominance in the IM, the Aggies swept the top five spots in the 400 IM. Senior Sydney Pickrem outclassed the field while logging the second NCAA "A" cut of the meet with a time of 4:01.73. Pickrem, last year's SEC Swimmer of the Year, was trailed by senior Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo (4:07.51), sophomore Camryn Toney (4:10.22), freshman Caroline Theil (4:14.42) and freshman Mollie Wright (4:17.30), who all achieved "B" qualifying cuts. Aggies posting "B" cuts in the prelims but not swimming in the evening finals were junior Anna Belousova (4:13.56) and sophomore Haley Yelle (4:15.52).
100 Butterfly
Tallying NCAA "B" cuts in the 100 butterfly were sophomore Taylor Pike (52.99), sophomore Jing Quah (53.18) and junior Katie Portz (53.36).
200 Freestyle
The Aggies claimed the top two spots in the 200 freestyle with defending SEC Champion Claire Rasmus touching first in 1:44.22 with junior Katie Portz right behind in 1:45.19. Also achieving a "B" cut was sophomore Haley Yelle with a time of 1:46.49 while placing fourth.
100 Breaststroke
Sydney Pickrem tallied her second victory of the night as she out-dueled teammate and 2018 SEC 100 breaststroke champion Anna Belousova by .03 of a second, 59.30 to 59.33. Also tallying "B" cuts were junior Victoria Roubique (3rd place, 1:00.25) and freshman Kylie Powers (5th, 1:00.59).
100 Backstroke
The Aggies' top finisher in the 100 backstroke was junior Sara Metzsch in fourth place with a time of 53.97.
800 Free Relay
Texas A&M, the SEC 800 free relay champions the past two seasons, outclassed the field at the Art Adamson Invitational. The foursome of senior Sydney Pickrem, junior Katie Portz, sophomore Haley Yelle and senior Claire Rasmus touched in 7:04.47, which was nearly 10 seconds faster than the runner-up finishers.