Melissa Cienega's first meet of 2018 was a highlight of things to come while frosh diver Haley Ragusa raised her status as the pair helped Pasadena City College's women's swim team reach fifth place out of 19 scoring teams at the Mt. San Antonio Invitational held Feb. 22-24.
Cienega, who missed the SCC Penthathlon a week earlier, scored four event victories in the 500-yard freestyle (5:11.95), the 1,650 freestyle (18:17.90), the 400 individual medley (4:47.50), and the 100 freestyle (55.01) while placing third in the 200 individual medley (2:16.20). Ragusa won the 1-meter diving board title with 182.10 points, then took second in the 3-meter board competition with 173.70.
Letterman Jocelyn Jo added wins in the 50 breaststroke (33 flat) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.78) while earning second in the 200 breastroke (2;31.43), second in the 100 butterfly (1:02.77), third in the 400 IM (4:58.68), seventh in the 200 IM (2:20.51), and eighth in the 200 backstroke (2:21.40).
Sophomore Sharon Perez placed sixth in teh 50 breaststroke (34.30).
With 347 points, Pasadena was the highest South Coast Conference team finisher, placing ahead of 6th Mt. San Antonio (331 points) and ninth El Camino (210). Orange Coast College won the Mt. SAC team title with 820 points.
Coach Terry Stoddard's Lancers open the South Coast Conference dual season on Friday, Mar. 2 when they host El Camino and Long Beach City Colleges. Meet time is 12:30 p.m. at the PCC Aquatic Center.
