Record Setting Performances Highlight Boise State’s Opening Day at the Mountain West Championships

Record Setting Performances Highlight Boise State’s Opening Day at the Mountain West Championships

2/20/2019 10:19:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Boise State opened day one of the Mountain West Championships by setting five school records in Minneapolis. Boise State's title defense of back-to-back MW team championships began in impressive fashion Wednesday as the Broncos' 200-yard medley relay team opened the meet by setting four school records, while freshman Marti Erlam set the program record for the highest score at a conference championship meet on the 1-meter springboard.

"I'm really happy with the day overall and our results," said Boise State head coach Christine Mabile. "We had five school records, we have not set a school record in two years since the 2017 championships. So to start off the meet like that with that type of moment is exciting."

Boise State's 200 medley relay comprised of Ally Kleinsorgen, Robin Pinger, Emmie Jennings and Abbey Sorensen combined for a 1:37.22 breaking the previous school marks for a conference championship meet and overall program record — all meets — that stood at 1:37.63 entering Wednesday.

"I'm proud of the way this team (the entire team) knows how to step up and when we say it's game time they really take it seriously," Mabile said. "It was exciting to see all four of our medley relay (200-yard medley) swimmers have the fastest splits of their careers and when you add those up, you get a team record."

The Broncos' 200 medley relay time would have been a Mountain West record for the event as well if San Diego State had not out touch the Broncos with a time of 1:36.76, both times made the NCAA provisional B standard.

The next two records came in the opening leg of the 200 medley relay where Kleinsorgen broke her own 50-yard backstroke school record of 24.42 — set at the 2017 NCAA Championships — with a split time of 24.29. The senior's time is a new high for a Bronco overall and at a conference meet.

The second event of the day was the 1-meter springboard where Erlam set the school record for points at a championship meet. The freshman turned in a 301.55 in the final Wednesday night to place third overall. Earlier in the day during the prelims, Erlam scored a 285.65 which advanced her into the evening's final in third place after six dives. Both of Erlam's scores on the day were NCAA Zone qualifying, but did not better her top mark of the year of 302.10.

Meanwhile, senior Cassidy Bose opened her championship meet scoring a 255.45 which ranked 10th in the prelims, while Tatum Thompkins scored a 231.05 for her third-best mark of the year.

Bose advanced to the consolation final where she improved upon her prelim score with a 261.40 which placed fourth in the final and 12th overall.

The opening day closed with the 800-yard freestyle relay where the Broncos placed third overall. Cody Evans, Lauren Vitort, Mandy Barnes and Hayley Hill combined for the top 800 relay time for Boise State this season clocking a 7:13.73. Barnes was called into action for this event which she does not normally compete in when teammate Lucia Davis was held out because of a lingering injury. The senior responded by turning in the fastest time on the team in her 200 split with a 1:48.07.

The Mountain West Championships will continue in Minneapolis through Saturday night. Day two begins at 11 a.m. (central) on Thursday with the prelims for the 500-yard freestyle, followed by the 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle and the 3-meter springboard. The finals will take place in the evening.