FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - The Fresno State swim and dive showed out on the final day of the NCAA Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday afternoon at Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
Aliz Kalmar marked the first swimmer and breaststroker to qualify into the top 16 in program history, set by a new program record of 2:08.20 after tying for 12th place in prelims. Kalmar concluded the championship weekend with 16th overall in a time of 2:09.17.
How it happened
Bulldogs opened the morning with the 200 breaststroke. Jenna Pulkkinen swam first for the 'Dogs. Pulkkinen led the heat after the first 100-yards with a split of 1:02.04. Into the last 50-yards, Pulkkinen was fifth in the herd and stayed there till the final touch. Outside smoke Kalmar took sixth in her heat to mark a new program record with a time of 2:08.20. Kalmar's new best time put her in 10th with one heat to swim. Kalmar secured the program's first top 16 qualification, tying for 12th place.
Grace Ally's first appearance of the weekend was in the 10M platform. The junior dove well finishing 46th place with a total score of 181.95. Ally posts the third best program finish since 2013.
Kalmar swam evenly, keeping up with the consolation heat as finals rolled in. Kalmar touched eighth in the consolation heat with a time of 2:09.17 and 16th overall in the event.
Notable
Aliz Kalmar marks a new program record in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:08.20, from preliminaries
Kalmar sets the standard for best finish by a swimmer in any event in program history with 16th place in the 200 breaststroke finals
Jenna Pulkkinen caps the season off with a 2:10.85 in the 200 breaststroke
Aliz Kalmar marks the second Bulldogs to qualify into the top 16 and first swimmer in program history (Hannah Prigge, 2x)
Fresno State was represented by three athletes this weekend, the most in program history - Grace Ally, Aliz Kalmar and Jenna Pulkkinen
Grace Ally posted the third best platform finish since 2013
Results
200 Breaststroke
16. Aliz Kalmar (2:09.17) !
T12. Aliz Kalmar (2:08.20) *#
35. Jenna Pulkkinen (2:10.85) #
Platform (10M)
46. Grace Ally (181.95) #
*Program Record, #Prelims, !Finals