Results: Finals Session
Results: Prelims Session

GENEVA, Ohio – All six Cal State East Bay swimmers competed during the opening day of the NCAA National Championships at the Spire Institute on Wednesday. The Pioneers broke three school records including the 200-yard medley relay team of Kamaehu Alboro, Makila Schuck, Caitlin DeNise, and Madison Hauanio which finished 10th overall.

"Today was a bit mixed, but I was pleased with the overall results," said East Bay Head Coach Ben Loorz. "We had three new school records on the day but I would have liked a few of today's swims to have been faster. Coming to Nationals after fully tapering and shaving, and continuing to get faster is a great achivement."

The Pioneer relay finished in 1:43.20 improving upon its previous school record mark by .23 seconds. Cal State East Bay finished runner-up in the consolation final behind a Cal Baptist squad (1:41.95) which would have placed third had it qualified for the championship final.

"This morning's medley relay was a mixed performance, resulting in a time that was good enough to make the "B" Final, but not a time that any of us were ecstatic about. However, the relay showed up in a big way this evening, beating everyone in the heat except Cal Baptist, and earning All-American Honorable Mention honors for the four relay members," praised Loorz.

Alboro set personal bests to lead off the relay in both the morning prelim and evening final sessions. She became the first swimmer in program history to break 26 seconds for 50 yards of backstroke (25.73).

"Kama was a standout today, twice lowering her school record in the 50-yard backstroke. She was not 100% happy with her performances at (the PCSC Conference Championships), so it was gratifying to see her post a pair of significant best times," complimented Loorz.

Hauanio, DeNise, Alyssa Tenney, and Brittany Rojo each competed as individuals in hopes of posting a top-16 time to qualify for finals. DeNise came closest out of this group finishing 19th in the 50-yard freestyle (23.58). Her time was a personal best mark, school record, and only .04 seconds shy of the final qualifying spot.

"We made the decision to scratch Caitlin from the 200 IM and let her focus on the 50 free today. There is an event limit of seven races for the meet, and we knew going in that we were going to have to drop two of her five individuals races since she'll be in four relays," said Loorz. "That was a difficult decision, and while Caitlin went her best time, she was just outside of making top-16 in the event."

Rojo took to the pool for the first time and finished tied for 46th in the 50 free (24.28). Alyssa Tenney tied for 44th (24.25) in the 50 free and 38th overall in the 200 individual medley. Hauanio joined her in the 200 IM and placed 25 th (2:06.84) in the morning prelim session.

Tomorrow's preliminary session with resume at 7:30 a.m. PDT with the women's 200-yard freestyle relay. The Pioneers posted the sixth fastest time in the country and will look to finish among the top eight relay to qualify for Thursday night's championship final.

Cal State East Bay will also compete as a team in the 400-yard medley relay to close out the day. The Pioneers are seeded 12th overall heading in to the event.

Individual competing in tomorrow's program include Tenney in the 400-yard IM, along with DeNise and Rojo in the 100-yard butterfly.

Cal State East Bay is currently tied for 17 th place in the women's team standings after the medley relay scored 14 points. Wayne State (120) leads Drury (114.5) and the rest of the field following the first of four days of competition.

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