Denver Opens Big Leads at Midway Point in Malibu - University of Denver Athletics

Photo by: C. Morgan Engel/Clarkson Creative Photography

10/23/2026 9:32:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

The Pioneers will wrap up the two-day double dual on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. MT

By: Niko Blankenship

MALIBU, Calif. – The University of Denver men's and women's swimming and diving programs opened up big advantages in their double dual against Pepperdine and Seattle on Friday night at Raleigh Runels Memorial Pool. This weekend's meet will wrap up tomorrow, beginning at 11 a.m. MT.

Team Scores:
Men's:
Denver 76, Seattle 71

Women's:
Denver 109 Pepperdine 39
Denver 118, Seattle 30

Event Winners:
Women's 400 Medley Relay – Samantha Synsvoll, Tenaya Winter, Julia Saxman, Isa Cardenas – 3:42.32
Women's 1650 Free – Weronika Malolepsza – 17:00.86
Men's 1650 Free – Finn Holdredge – 15:38.90
Women's 50 Fly – Julia Saxman – 23.94
Men's 50 Fly – Hamish McLellan – 21.88
Women's 50 Breast – Tenaya Winter – 28.94
Men's 50 Breast – Kito Campbell – 25.41
Women's 50 Back – Isa Cardenas – 25.64
Women's 50 Free – Tenaya Winter – 23.38
Women's 400 IM – Sabrina Rachjaibun – 4:18.99
Men's 400 IM – Nico Morton – 3:56.46

How it Happened:
Denver opened its meet with a win in the women's 400 medley relay when the team of Samantha Synsvoll, Tenaya Winter, Julia Saxman and Isa Cardenas combined for a time of 3:42.32. Denver's men finished second in their race with a 3:14.80.

In the first individual race of the weekend, Weronika Malolepsza swam the mile in 17:00.86, more than a nine-second edge over teammate Genevieve Franklin, who finished in 17:09.60 and took second. Paige Reilly finished fourth in 17:24.77 to give the Pioneers a big haul of points in the event.

The men's mile saw Denver take the top three spots in the event. Finn Holdredge led the Pioneer trio with a 15:38.90, Hudson Martz finished second in 15:57.61 and Max O'Neil took third in 16:07.81.

In the start of the individual event sprints, sophomore Julia Saxman clocked in at 23.94 in the 50 fly to take the event title. Cardenas finished second in 24.95. On the men's side, Hamish McLellan swam the 50 fly in 21.88 to start another Denver 1-2 with Viktor Hristov grabbing second in 22.27.

Winter kept the good times going for the Pioneers with a 28.94 to win the women's 50 breast, finishing a tenth ahead of teammate Tinkara Novak who finished second in 29.04. Kito Campbell won the men's 50 breast in 25.41.

Cardenas led a Denver podium sweep in the 50 back with her 25.64. Jette Haedicke reached the wall in 26.45 to take second and Darian Koler finished third with a 26.86.

Winter picked up another win in the women's 50 free, timing in at 23.38.

Sabrina Rachjaibun led another Pioneer podium sweep, this time in the women's 400 IM. Rachjaibun got to the final wall in 4:18.99, Synsvoll finished second in 4:23.37 and Lilly Zippel clocked in at 4:23.39 to take third.

Nico Morton got Denver's men back in the win column in the distance medley event, clocking in at 3:56.46. Cota Clise finished second in 4:01.62 and Ian O'Neil finished third with a 4:05.44.

UP NEXT:
Denver will wrap up the two-day meet on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. MT.

Saturday Event Schedule
3-meter diving
200 medley relay
200 free
100 back
100 breast
200 fly
50 free
100 free
200 back
200 breast
500 free
100 fly
200 IM
200 free relay
1-meter diving

DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports. 
Like DU Swimming & Diving on Facebook
Follow DU Swimming & Diving on Twitter at @DU_SwimDive
Follow DU Swimming & Diving on Instagram