Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, October 18. Sammie Bosma had a strong day for the Texas A&M Aggies as the sprinter took home three individual titles to lead A&M in a 170-120 triumph against Southeastern Conference foe Arkansas.
Texas A&M’s Kelli Benjamin (26.22), Sycerika McMahon (28.01), Beryl Gastaldello (24.01) and Sammie Bosma (22.44) opened up the morning with just the fifth 1:40 in the NCAAs this year in the women’s 200-yard medley relay with a 1:40.68. That ranks fourth in the nation right now.
Sarah Henry followed with a strong 1000-yard free to lead A&M to a 1-2 in the distance event. Henry clocked a 9:55.96 with teammate Colleen Konetzke hitting the wall second in 10:13.42. Henry is just one of 12 swimmers under 10:00 so far in the early season. Arkansas’ Aiden Lister placed third in 10:17.99. Henry doubled up with a 2:00.61 in the 200-yard IM to move to fourth in the NCAA so far this year. A&M’s McMahon (2:02.83) and Bethany Galat (2:03.39) exhibitioned second and third-place times.
A&M then went 1-2-3 in the 200-yard free as Lili Ibanez Lopez won in 1:49.79. Sarah Gibson (1:50.05) and Kristin Malone (1:51.37) took second and third in the event. Gastaldello was back in the 100-yard back with a 54.71 for the win, while Anna Mayfield provided Arkansas’s top finish yet with a second-place 55.10. A&M’s Claire Brandt finished third in 55.43.
McMahon provided another victory for A&M with a 1:01.79 in the 100-yard breast. That’s among the top 10 in the NCAA so far this year. Arkansas’ Nikki Daniels took second in 1:02.10 with A&M’s Franko Jonker earning third in 1:02.84. McMahon swept the breaststroke events with a 2:14.39 to move to sixth in the NCAA this year. Arkansas’ Julia Banach (2:17.76) took third, while A&M’s Jonker exhibitioned a second-place 2:15.78.
In a close finish, A&M’s Emily Neubert touched out Arkansas’ Taylor Weiss, 2:03.00 to 2:03.46, for the 200-yard fly title. Arkansas earned its first double-podium of the night as Caitlin Sherinda placed third in 2:03.65.
A&M’s Sammie Bosma kept the titles coming for the Aggies with a 22.95 in the 50-yard free. Arkansas’ Nina Drolc (23.46) and Susanna White (23.54) finished second and third.
Bosma doubled up with a 50.75 to win the 100-yard free. Drolc took second here as well with a 50.95, while Maddie Monroe earned third in 51.99 for Arkansas.
Bosma collected her third individual win of the day with a 55.33 in the 100-yard fly with teammate Gastaldello exhibitioning a second-place 55.54. Neubert also exhibitioned a third-place 56.32.
A&M’s Lisa Bratton stopped the clock in 1:57.92 in the 200-yard back for the win, moving into the top 10 in the NCAA this year. Teammate Brandt exhibitioned a third-place 1:58.89. Arkansas’ Anna Mayfield took second in 1:58.76.
Sarah Gibson won the 500-yard free in 4:55.54 with Konetzke exhibitioning a second-place 4:58.56. Lister took third for Arkansas in 5:00.74.
A&M closed out the meet with Gastaldello (23.27), Benjamin (24.03), Gibson (23.22) and Galat (23.56) exhibitioning a winning 1:34.08 in the 200-yard free relay. Arkansas’ Drolc, White, Monroe and Rachel Stoehr took second in 1:34.78.
In diving events, A&M’s Madison Hudkins won the one-meter with 305.18 points. Arkansas’s Nicole Gillis (285.30) and Meghan Clark (261.68) took second and third. Hudkins swept diving with 317.70 points on the three-meter, while Gillis (310.28) and Clark (292.05) placed second and third.
Results: Texas A&M vs. Arkansas