DENVER – The University of Denver women’s swimming and diving program opened its home calendar with a win over I-25 neighbors Colorado State on Friday afternoon in the Pioneers home opener inside El Pomar Natatorium.
In the opening event of the swimming portion of Friday afternoon’s action, Denver’s 200 medley relay team of Isa Cardenas, Tinkara Novak, Julia Saxman and Tenaya Winter combined for a time of 1:39.26 to break the El Pomar Natatorium record that had stood since 2019 (1:39.39).
Team Scores:
Women’s:
Denver 167
Colorado State 133
Event Winners:
200 Medley Relay – Isa Cardenas, Tinkara Novak, Julia Saxman, Tenaya Winter – 1:39.26 – New Pool Record
1000 Free – Weronika Malolepsza – 10:34.10
200 Free – Samantha Synsvoll – 1:48.73
200 Fly – Sabrina Rachjaibun – 2:01.71
50 Free – Isa Cardenas – 23.33
500 Free – Sabrina Rachjaibun – 500 Free – 5:01.54
100 Fly – Julia Saxman – 53.51
200 IM – Samantha Synsvoll – 2:01.77
How it Happened:
Friday’s action began with diving. Tatum Brasfield led the Pioneer divers with a second-place finish on the one-meter board and a score of 243.30. On the three-meter board, Lila Su led Denver with a 225.08 to take third.
The swimming portion of the meet opened with a bang when Denver set its new home pool record in the 200 medley relay.
In the first individual swim of the afternoon, Weronika Malolepsza dropped 24 seconds off her time and won the race in 10:20.08. Genevieve Franklin finished third in a time of 10:34.10.
Samantha Synsvoll made it three swimming wins in three events for the Pioneers with her time of 1:48.73 in the 200 free. Bianca Rayward rounded out the podium places with her time of 1:50.54.
Jette Haedicke and Darian Koler earned a Denver 2-3 in the women’s 100 back with their times of 54.85 and 55.48, respectively. Novak and Winter earned Denver another 2-3, this time in the 100 breast with their times of 1:01.98 and 1:03.21.
To the butterfly, Sabrina Rachjaibun got Denver back in the win column with her time of 2:01.71 in the 200 fly.
In the final event before the first swimming break, Isa Cardenas won the 50 free sprint with her time of 23.33. Cardenas finished second in the 100 free on the other side of the break, clocking in at 51.31.
Synsvoll, Koler and Maria DelMonte took spots 2-4 in the 200 back Friday afternoon. The Denver winning sophomore was timed at 2:00.93, Koler reached the wall in 2:02.10 and Delmonte was clocked at 2:04.57.
Lilly Zippel, Novak and Sophia Giesecke followed that up with a 2-4 of their own in the 200 breast. Zippel led the trio with a 2:18.01.
Rachjaibun turned in her second win of the day, this time in the 500 free, reaching the final wall in 5:01.54. The 1000 free winner Malolepsza finished second in 5:01.69 and Paige Reilly made it a podium sweep for Denver with her time of 5:07.21.
In the final race before the second break of the day, Saxman earned her first individual win of the weekend with a 53.51 in the 100 fly. Rayward finished third for Denver in 56.56.
On the other side of the break, Synsvoll got to the wall first in the 200 IM, earning her second win of the day with a 2:01.77. Zippel finished third in 2:05.12.
To close out the meet on Friday, Denver’s 200 free relay team of Winter, Rayward, Koler and Cardenas combined for a time of 1:32.43 to finish second.
UP NEXT:
Denver’s men’s and women’s teams will both be in action on Saturday when the Pioneers welcome Colorado Mesa to El Pomar Natatorium. DU’s annual Alumni and Family Tailgate will begin at 9 a.m. MT, the diving portion of the meet will begin at 10 a.m. MT and the swimming portion will start at 12 p.m. MT.
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Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU’s NCAA Division I sports.
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In the opening event of the swimming portion of Friday afternoon’s action, Denver’s 200 medley relay team of Isa Cardenas, Tinkara Novak, Julia Saxman and Tenaya Winter combined for a time of 1:39.26 to break the El Pomar Natatorium record that had stood since 2019 (1:39.39).
Team Scores:
Women’s:
Denver 167
Colorado State 133
Event Winners:
200 Medley Relay – Isa Cardenas, Tinkara Novak, Julia Saxman, Tenaya Winter – 1:39.26 – New Pool Record
1000 Free – Weronika Malolepsza – 10:34.10
200 Free – Samantha Synsvoll – 1:48.73
200 Fly – Sabrina Rachjaibun – 2:01.71
50 Free – Isa Cardenas – 23.33
500 Free – Sabrina Rachjaibun – 500 Free – 5:01.54
100 Fly – Julia Saxman – 53.51
200 IM – Samantha Synsvoll – 2:01.77
How it Happened:
Friday’s action began with diving. Tatum Brasfield led the Pioneer divers with a second-place finish on the one-meter board and a score of 243.30. On the three-meter board, Lila Su led Denver with a 225.08 to take third.
The swimming portion of the meet opened with a bang when Denver set its new home pool record in the 200 medley relay.
In the first individual swim of the afternoon, Weronika Malolepsza dropped 24 seconds off her time and won the race in 10:20.08. Genevieve Franklin finished third in a time of 10:34.10.
Samantha Synsvoll made it three swimming wins in three events for the Pioneers with her time of 1:48.73 in the 200 free. Bianca Rayward rounded out the podium places with her time of 1:50.54.
Jette Haedicke and Darian Koler earned a Denver 2-3 in the women’s 100 back with their times of 54.85 and 55.48, respectively. Novak and Winter earned Denver another 2-3, this time in the 100 breast with their times of 1:01.98 and 1:03.21.
To the butterfly, Sabrina Rachjaibun got Denver back in the win column with her time of 2:01.71 in the 200 fly.
In the final event before the first swimming break, Isa Cardenas won the 50 free sprint with her time of 23.33. Cardenas finished second in the 100 free on the other side of the break, clocking in at 51.31.
Synsvoll, Koler and Maria DelMonte took spots 2-4 in the 200 back Friday afternoon. The Denver winning sophomore was timed at 2:00.93, Koler reached the wall in 2:02.10 and Delmonte was clocked at 2:04.57.
Lilly Zippel, Novak and Sophia Giesecke followed that up with a 2-4 of their own in the 200 breast. Zippel led the trio with a 2:18.01.
Rachjaibun turned in her second win of the day, this time in the 500 free, reaching the final wall in 5:01.54. The 1000 free winner Malolepsza finished second in 5:01.69 and Paige Reilly made it a podium sweep for Denver with her time of 5:07.21.
In the final race before the second break of the day, Saxman earned her first individual win of the weekend with a 53.51 in the 100 fly. Rayward finished third for Denver in 56.56.
On the other side of the break, Synsvoll got to the wall first in the 200 IM, earning her second win of the day with a 2:01.77. Zippel finished third in 2:05.12.
To close out the meet on Friday, Denver’s 200 free relay team of Winter, Rayward, Koler and Cardenas combined for a time of 1:32.43 to finish second.
UP NEXT:
Denver’s men’s and women’s teams will both be in action on Saturday when the Pioneers welcome Colorado Mesa to El Pomar Natatorium. DU’s annual Alumni and Family Tailgate will begin at 9 a.m. MT, the diving portion of the meet will begin at 10 a.m. MT and the swimming portion will start at 12 p.m. MT.
DENVER’S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU’s NCAA Division I sports.
Like DU Swimming & Diving on Facebook
Follow DU Swimming & Diving on Twitter at @DU_SwimDive
Follow DU Swimming & Diving on Instagram
