Women's Swimming | 10/4/2024 9:40:00 PM

Utah Tech swimming got off to a strong start to open the 2024-25 season on day one at the Pepperdine Rodionoff Invitational on Friday at the Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool in Malibu, Calif.
 
The Trailblazers claimed victory in five of the first eight events of the two-day meet to open up a 137-133 lead on the host Waves, while Concordia-Irvine (36 pts) is in distant third.

Three of the five Blazer victories were posted by sophomores, starting with Cera Mallory in the 1,000-meter free with a time of 10:19.76, which was the third-fastest time in program history. Fellow sophomore Kaiya Lawson followed in fourth at 10:59.67, while freshman Jenna Tracy placed eighth at 11:05.85 in her first collegiate race. 

Mary Sims Cross recorded win number two in the 200 back at 2:05.05, with freshman Dani Cannon following in fourth at 2:08.78 in her first individual event.
 
Grace Benson made it three-straight race wins in the 100 breast with a time of 1:06.76. In fact, the Trailblazers swept four of the top six spots overall, with freshmen Yara Olsen (1:06.92), Alyssa Gordon (1:07.72) and Tracy (1:08.33) placing second, fourth and sixth, respectively.
 
Utah Tech's fourth individual event win was notched by a freshman, as Gabby Henry touched the wall first in the 200 butterfly in her collegiate debut event, while fellow freshman Kam Swanson placed third (2:09.61).

The Trailblazers' final victory on day one came in the 400 medley relay, where the team of Cross, Benson, Henry and senior Mandy Farnum clocked a 3:54.97.

"We are very pleased with this start to the season," said Head Coach Shawn King. "It's a great to get some great racing experience on the road. We have been impressed with their focus in competition and their strong support of each other throughout the day."
 
Utah Tech opened the day with a second-place finish in the 200 free relay, when Mallory, sophomore Sorina Rom, Benson and Farnum posted a time of 1:37.39. Mallory was also the Blazers' top finisher in the 100 free with a third-place time of 52.88.
 
Meanwhile, freshmen Allie Hayes (2:09.90) and Jordan Musselman (2:10.67) placed second and third, respectively, in the 200 IM in their first individual collegiate races.

'We are grateful for a solid group of freshmen who have bolstered our team and are making an immediate impact," King noted. "It is nice to have depth across the field of events." 

Utah Tech returns to the pool on Saturday for Day Two at the Pepperdine Invite, which begins at 11 a.m. (MT).