The Air Force women’s swim and dive team achieved two wins against Mountain West rivals Colorado State and New Mexico in a tri-meet held at the Cadet Natatorium on January 10. The Falcons defeated Colorado State with a score of 179-121 and New Mexico by 254-41.
Head coach Colleen Murphy commented on the team’s performance, saying, “Our team rose to the challenge this weekend and came away with some amazing wins. This is a special group, they are gritty and determined; they don’t back down to any team and they believe in each other.”
The meet began with the Air Force 200 medley relay “A” team—Kai-Min Tsuei, Naomi Furman, Amber Martin, and Lily Larson—winning their event with a time of 1:43.46.
In diving events, Chloe Perkins took first place in the 3-meter springboard with a score of 295.55. Freshman Lulu Semakula finished second (282.80), while Lexton Gregory was third (268.55).
Distance swimmers Katie Andrist (10:46.39) and Abby Miller (10:48.04) secured first and second place finishes in the 1000 freestyle.
Sophomore Lily Larson led in both the 200 free (1:52.38) and the 100 free (51.84). Brynn Bond placed third (1:53.56) and Sadie Hartig fourth (1:54.50) in the 200 free.
Murphy noted Larson’s contribution, stating, “Lily Larson won two very close races, she has an amazing way of putting her head down and getting the touch.”
Naomi Furman won both breaststroke events—the 100 breaststroke at 1:03.62 and the 200 breaststroke at 2:22.21—with Mandy Fleetwood finishing as runner-up in both races.
Jena Nowoswiat led a sweep for Air Force in the 200 fly at 2:08.96, followed by Natalie Doig (2:09.30) and Abigail Hardy (2:09.60).
In backstroke events, Tsuei placed second in the 100 back at 57.20 seconds while Elizabeth Sistrunk was third at 57.35 seconds; Sistrunk also finished second in the 200 back (2:04.16), with Hartig taking third (2:05.20).
Hannah Seal finished second in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:16.14.
On one-meter springboard diving, Kacey Hu placed second scoring 270.35 points; Semakula followed closely behind for third at 270 points—both achieving NCAA Zone qualifying scores.
In other results from individual events:
– Mills was second in the 100 fly at :57.99; Doig was third (:58).
– Lily Bachl took third place for Air Force in the women’s fifty free (:24.01), Ryan Mills was fourth (:24.17).
To conclude competition, Mills, Bachl, Seal, and Larson combined to win gold for Air Force in the women’s four-hundred free relay with a time of three minutes twenty-eight seconds point zero-one.
“This was a total team effort for the win,” Murphy said.
The Falcons will compete again on Friday January 16 against Seattle University.
