Conejo Simi Swim Club and Royal High School’s Alisa Cooke has verbally committed to California State University, Bakersfield Roadrunners for the 2016-2017 season.
Cooke was the second place finisher in the 100 free this year at California’s CF-SS Division III Swimming and Diving Championships, swimming a personal best 53.76. She also hit the wall fourth in the 50 free with a 24.30. Last season, she swam at Speedo Winter Junior National Championships, most notably swimming a 1:53.64 as the first leg of the Conejo Simi ‘A’ 800 relay. Here are her best times in SCY:
- 50 FR: 24.30
- 100 FR: 52.01
- 200 FR: 1:53.64
- 500 FR: 5:08.13
- 100 FL: 58.39
- 200 FL: 2:07.68
Last year’s NCAA Division I CSU team coached by Chris Hansen finished fifth in the Western Athletic Conference Championships. The team boasts strong freestyle relays; they finished first in the 400 and 800 and second in the 200.
In order to make it into the ‘A’ relay capacity, Cooke will have to improve a little, but the goal is within reach. Last season’s Roadrunner 200 free relay splits at WAC Championships ranged from 22.99 to 23.77, while the 400 splits were 50.21 to 51.16 and the 800 splits were 1:48.79 to 1:50.49. Roadrunners Lauren Kaufman and Delise Batiza both graduated after last season, which may also free up a spot for Cooke.
Cooke will prove an asset in the individual events as well; her current best 100 free would have scored her sixth place at last year’s WAC Championships, while her 200 would have nabbed seventh place.
“I chose this school because when I went on my recruiting trip there, I immediately felt like I was part of a family, and I knew I would be able to improve and thrive in my swimming career there,” Cooke said. “I am extremely excited for next year to be a part of Bakersfield’s team and swim for them!”
She sounds like a great catch for Bakersfield!
Go runners!