Kwong Wins WSC Title, Gonzalez Finishes Third at Conference Championships
Freshman Alexandria Kwong won her first career individual Western State Conference title, and Rebecca Gonzalez finished third in another event to lead the Allan Hancock College women's swimming team during day two of the Western State Conference Championships Friday at Cuesta College.
Kwong, an Orcutt Academy graduate, won the 100-yard butterfly final with a time of 1:00.96, about two seconds faster than the second place finisher. She became the second Hancock swimmer to win a conference title. Leanna Bramble won five conference crowns before transferring to Whitworth University.
Gonzalez, a Nipomo High School graduate, turned in a season-best time of 1:12.10 in the 100-yard breaststroke final. She finished third, about 1.3 seconds behind the winner.
To open the day, Kwong, Gonzalez, Madalena Diaz and Brannica Casabar teamed up to finish third in the 200-yard medley relay in a time of 2:00.85.
Casabar also finished 11th in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 5:42.84 to earn six points for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs finished fifth in the 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 8:59.35, shaving about 10 seconds off its qualifying time.
With one day remaining, Hancock sits in seventh place out of 10 teams with 194 total points. Just 35 points separate third place L.A. Pierce and the Bulldogs. Santa Barbara, the defending conference champion, remains in first place, with 508.5 points. Ventura sits in second with 400.5 points.
The meet continues Saturday with the preliminary heats at 9 a.m. The finals will begin at 3:30 p.m.