Ella Kirschke Wins Meet-Clinching Race as UCLA Burns Arizona State by 14 Points

ARIZONA STATE V. UCLA

• November 3, 2019
• Tempe, AZ
• Results
• Scores
  • UCLA 156, ASU 142

After defeating the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson, the UCLA women wrapped up their road trip on Saturday by taking down the Arizona State Sun Devils in an incredibly competitive match-up.

Things got off to an electric start with the 400 medley relay, where the Sun Devils won by a mere two-hundredths, 3:41.02 to 3:41.04. The race was very close at halfway; UCLA led off with freshman Sophia Kosturos (54.85) and sophomore Claire Grover (1:01.55), while ASU went out with seniors Chloe Isleta (54.81) and Silja Kansakoski (1:01.75). Bruin senior Amy Okada was 53.95 on the fly leg to push past ASU freshman Jade Foelske (54.88), but Cierra Runge dropped a 49.54 anchor to get by UCLA first-year Rachel Rhee (50.69) at the wall.

The Sun Devils kept at it, with Emma Nordin going 10:01.17 to win the 1000 free and Runge going 1-2 in the 200 free with Erica Laning, going 1:49.51 and 1:49.96, respectively.

Kosturos would get the Bruins back on track with a 54.38 in the 100 back, winning by 1.60 seconds over Isleta’s 55.98, while Grover clocked a 1:01.64 in the 100 breast and Okada took the 200 fly (1:59.50). Kosturos and Grover would sweep their strokes, with Kosturos going 1:59.26 in the 200 back and Grover 2:14.85 in the 200 breast. Okada, meanwhile, raced to the wall first in the 100 fly (54.28).

But, ASU swept the sprints with Camryn Curry in the 50 (23.31) and Runge in the 100 (51.02). Nordin returned in the 500 free, taking the victory at 4:53.16.

Things were very tight over the final few events, but UCLA’s Ella Kirschke fought over the back half of the 200 IM to reel in Foelske, 2:03.19 to 2:03.51, effectively clinching the win for the Bruins.

UCLA didn’t need to win the 400 free relay to take the meet, but like in the 400 medley relay, this one was incredibly close nonetheless. Runge led off in 50.85 as ASU split 50-points the rest of the way, and despite Kenisha Liu‘s 49.44 anchor, ASU won 3:22.63 to 3:22.98. The Bruins, helped in diving by Ruby Neave‘s wins on both boards, left Arizona with their second win in as many days.