By Dan D’Addona.
The Art Adamson Invitational got off to a record-breaking start for host Texas A&M.
Brock Bonetti broke the school record int he 100-yard backstroke leading off the 400 medley relay (46.23), which broke Jason Bergstrom’s mark of 46.31 from the 2009 NCAA Championships.
The Aggies won two events at the Mansfield ISD Natatorium.
In the men’s meet, Texas A&M trails first-day leader LSU by just eight points, 298-290. Looking up at the Tigers and Aggies were Arizona State (260), TCU (120), Incarnate Word (61) and SMU (54).
Texas A&M opened with a win over Arizona State in the 200 free relay. The foursome of senior Cory Bolleter, senior Jacob Gonzales, freshman Adam Koster and freshman Raiz Tjon-A-Joe touched in a winning time of 1:18.43 with the Sun Devils right behind in 1:18.51.
Bolleter, making his season swimming debut, was even faster in the 50 freestyle with a winning time of 19.48, which was nearly a half-second faster than the runner-up. Gonzales also tallied a NCAA “B”cut with a time of 20.16.
Meanwhile, the Texas A&M women swam to four race victories and nearly 20 individual NCAA qualifying cuts.
The Aggies logged victories in the 500-yard freestyle, the 200 IM, the 50 free and the 400 medley relay and stand atop the team standings with 649 points. Chasing the Aggies are LSU (410), Arizona State (335), Boise State (190), TCU (121), SMU (106) and Incarnate Word (49).
Senior Sarah Gibson dominated the field in the 500 free with a winning time of 4:40.69, which was over three seconds ahead of the runner-up finisher. Also tallying NCAA “B” cuts in the race were senior Sycerika McMahon, sophomore Claire Rasmus and freshman Katie Portz.
Sophomore Sydney Pickrem and juniors Lisa Bratton and Bethany Galat took the top three spots in the 200 IM. Pickrem grabbed first in 1:56.14 and was followed closely by Bratton in 1:57.58 and Galat in 1:57.68. Also earning NCAA “B” cut times were junior Esther Gonzalez, sophomore Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo, junior Kristin Malone and senior Ashley McGregor.
Junior Beryl Gastaldello won the 50 freestyle in 21.94, which was less than .20 of a second off her school record in the race. Also tallying NCAA “B” cuts were Gibson, Galat and redshirt freshman Raena Eldridge.
The Aggies closed day one with a strong victory in the 400-yard medley relay. The foursome of Bratton, junior Jorie Caneta, Gibson and Gastaldello touched the wall in 3:32.89, which was over two seconds faster than the second place finisher.
The Aggies’ divers also shined on Thursday at the Mizzou Invitationa with junior Tyler Henschel winning the 1-meter dive with a score of 369.80 and sophomore Sam Thornton taking third with 364.60 points.
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