As the only athlete, male or female, to win all three of her individual events, freshman Jessica Lee was named Big 8 Swimmer of the Year at the Big 8 Championships last weekend. Lee opened the meet with a win in the 500 Free on day 1, another win in the 200 Free on day 2, and she pulled the "hat-trick" in dramatic fashion with a dominating win in the 1650 free with a school record-setting time of 17:46.21 (almost a minute ahead of 2nd place). Lee was also on the SRJC's winning women's 200 Medley Relay with teammates: Celine Sargis, Lucia Mora, and Ivylee Senn.
The SRJC women finished 2nd overall in the Big 8 after claiming both the conference and state titles in 2015. Highlights of the meet included: sophomore Celine Sargis defending her 2015 title in the 200 IM and taking 2nd in both the 400 IM and the 200 Back as well; freshman diver, Elana Candiotti taking 2nd on both boards and qualifying for the state meet; Lucia Mora taking 2nd in both the 100 and 200 Breaststroke; and two 3rd place finishes by team captain Ivylee Senn in the 100 and 200 Fly.
Freshman Jasmine Alger had an impressive break-out swim in the women's 200 Fly as well. She came into the meet seeded 3rd with a personal best time of 2:22. 07. In the prelims she improved to a 2:16.50 seeding her 2nd going into the final. And, in the final she dropped another 3+ seconds for a dramatic come-from-behind win to touch out the top seed in the final few strokes, winning the race with a time of 2:12.99. This time also set a new school record for Alger.
The combination of sophomore leadership and new freshman talent resulted in 9 Bear Cubs and all 5 relays qualifying to represent SRJC at the 2016 CCCAA State Swimming and Diving Championship Meet, next week, at East LA College, Monterey Park, May 5-7.
State Qualifiers
- Jessica Lee: 500 Free, 200 Free, 1650 Free, Relays
- Celine Sargis: 200 IM, 100 Back, 200 Back, Relays
- Lucia Mora: 500 Free, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, Relays
- Ivylee Senn: 50 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, Relays
- Jasmine Alger: 100 Fly, 200 Fly
- Elana Candiotti: 1M Board, 3M Board
- Julia Kennedy: Relays
- Gina Peil: Relays
- Dulcie Manchenton: Relays
Big 8 Conference Championship Complete Results
Final Team Scores: 1. Sierra 851 2. Santa Rosa 597 3. Delta 560 4. Diablo Valley 477 5. American River 384 6. Modesto 204 7. Sac City 181 8. Consumnes River 106
SRJC Top Event Finishers: 200 Free Relay-4th, Talkington, Mora, Manchenton, Peil, 1:42.13; 500 Free-BIG 8 CHAMPION, Jessica Lee, 5:07.99; 200 IM-BIG 8 CHAMPION, Celine Sargis, 2:10.80; 50 Free-9th, Ivylee Senn, 25.26; 400 Medley Relay-2nd, Sargis, Mora, Senn, Lee, 4:03.67; 1M Diving-2nd, Elana Candiotti, 196.75pts; 200 Medley Relay-BIG 8 CHAMPION, Sargis, Mora, Senn, Lee, 1:51.71; 400 IM-2nd, Celine Sargis, 4:47.04; 100 Fly-3rd, Ivylee Senn, 1:00.53; 200 Free-BIG 8 CHAMPION, Jessica Lee, 1:56.08; 100 Breast-2nd, Lucia Mora, 1:10.33; 100 Back-9th, Theresa Bell, 1:05.87; 800 Free Relay-2nd, Lee, Senn, Sargis, Mora, 8:03.02; 3M Diving-2nd, Elana Candiotti, 193.75pts; 1650 Free-BIG 8 CHAMPION, Jessica Lee, 17:46.21; 200 Back-2nd, Celine Sargis, 2:10.12; 100 Free-8th, Dulcie Manchenton, 56.53; 200 Breast-2nd, Lucia Mora, 2:30.15; 200 Fly-BIG 8 CHAMPION, Jasmine Alger, 2:12.99; 400 Free Relay-2nd, Lee, Senn, Sargis, Manchenton, 3:40.27