Women's Swimming & Diving: Rio Hondo picks up two SCC dual meet wins

Rio Hondo College picked up a pair of impressive South Coast Conference dual meet victories on Friday at home as the Roadrunners edged Long Beach City College 130-129 and cruised past defending SCC champion El Camino College 168-79. With the wins, Rio Hondo closed out its dual meet schedule with a 3-5 record.

In tight meet throughout, LBCC led by eight points going into final event, the 400 freestyle relay.  Rio Hondo  needed a win in the relay plus a second or third-place finish to pull the dual meet victory.  Rio Hondo's A relay squad of Emily Mena, Megan Ownbey, Sarah Aguayo, and Erica Valdez won with a season-best time of 4:16.02, including a blazing anchor leg by Valdez in 1:01.63. Rio Hondo's B team of Molly Shea, Gaby Loera, Rebecca Jara, and Whitney Perez finished third in 4:58.95 to seal victory.

According to long-time aquatics coach Mike Hinze, it was Rio Hondo's first dual meet win over Long Beach since 1996.

Erica Valdez won her three individual events at Friday's meet - 200 free (2:17.09), 200 fly (2:34.87*), and 100 fly (1:08.67).

Some season best times during meet include: Eveline Quiroz 1000 free (16:06.87*)/500 free (7:39.99*); Stacey Quiroz 200 back (2:45.08*); Natasha Lizarraga 200 free (2:56.89*), Rebecca Jara 200 fly (3:20.58*), Gaby Loera 200 fly (3:11.67*), Katie Luna 200 breast (3:03.76*)/200 IM (2:48.69*), Molly Shea 100 breast (1:28.78*)/50 free (31:09*), Sarah Aguayo 500 free (6:10.95*).

Rio Hondo returns to action next weekend (Apr. 8-9) when the Roadrunners will compete at the two-day Pasadena Invitational at Pasadena City College.