Air Force Academy

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The Air Force women's swimming and diving team got its 2005-06 season off to a good start, defeating New Mexico, 161-139, in a Mountain West Conference swim meet at the Seidler Natatorium Friday evening.

The Falcons and Lobos both took first place in seven events, but AFA swept in key events to win the meet. Leading the way was junior Lauren White, who took first in the 1000 and 500 yard freestyle events.

The Falcons opened the meet by sweeping the 1000 free, led by White's first-place time of 10:45.43. Sophomore Tiffany Biddle placed second (10:52.12) and senior co-captain Ginny Miller placed third (11:07.68).

Senior co-captain Colleen Smith followed up by winning the 200 free with a swim of 1:55.84. After just swimming the 1000, White followed with a second place finish in the 200 with a time of 1:57.45. White would later go on to win the 500 free with a time of 5:07.96.

The duo of senior co-captain Carly Omizo and junior Blair Leake dominated the 100 and 200 breastroke events. Omizo won the 100 breast with a swim of 1:07.05 and Leake took second with a time of 1:07.72. Leake later won the 200 breast with a 2:24.70 swim and Omizo took second with a 2:28.59 swim.

A pair of freshmen also swam well for the Falcons, combining to take first in three events. Jane Hwang made an immediate impact for Air Force, winning the 100 butterfly with the 10th-fastest time in school history (58.02) and the 200 individual medley by four seconds with a swim of 2:10.55. Fellow newcomer Laken Stogner won the 100 free with swim of 54.81.

In addition of Hwang dominating the 200 IM, Smith followed up in second place (2:14.30) and Leake in third (2:15.43).

The top divers for the Falcons were sophomore Danielle Dowds and freshman Ashleigh Peck. Dowds took second in the three-meter dive with 234.75 points and Peck placed second in the one-meter dive with 208.95 points.

The Falcons return to action next Saturday, Oct. 29, as they host a five-way meet at the Cadet Natatorium beginning at 10 a.m.


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