Dec. 3, 2000

LONG BEACH, Calif. - The San Diego State women's swim team earned ten top-15 finishes at this weekend's Speedo Cup. The three-day (Thurs.-Sat.) event was held at Belmont Plaza and was hosted by UC Irvine. The Aztecs finished 13th, scoring 291 points, out of 22 teams. Seventh-ranked USC won the event (988) with Pacific (845), Hawai'i (815.5), Oregon State (741) and top-ranked UCLA (734.5) rounding out the top five. SDSU finished behind Fresno State (330.5).

Highlighting competition for the Aztecs in individual events was freshman Megan Storey's second-place (16:49.91) finish in the 1,650 freestyle. That mark is both a career and season best and earns her NCAA consideration. Storey also set a season and personal best in the 500 free finishing 13th with a time of 5:00.85.

Senior Meghan Casillan finished seventh in the 100 backstroke with a season best time of 58.37. Sophomore Erin Kilpatrick and junior Tara Johnson earned 11th- and 13th-place finishes respectively in the 200 butterfly. Kilpatrick swam the event in 2:08.11 and Johnson in 2:09.26, both of which are season bests. Kilpatrick set another season best finishing 14th in the 400 individual medley clocking in at 4:35.73. Senior Heather DeFelice finished 15th in the 100 breaststroke touching the wall at 1:06.00 for a season best.

The Aztecs also had a strong showing in relay events. The 800 freestyle relay team of freshmen Hannah Ryan and Megan Storey and sophomores Erin Smith and Kilpatrick finished 11th (7:50.77). In the 400 medley relay, the team of Casillan, DeFelice, Kilpatrick and Ryan finished 14th clocking in at 4:01.71. SDSU also earned a 14th-place finish in the 200 free relay with the team of Johnson, Ryan, DeFelice and freshman Aletta Haff swimming the event in 1:40.73.

The Speedo Cup marks the end of the team's competition this semester with its next meet coming January 6-7 when the Aztecs travel to Irvine for the UCI Invitational.