Dec. 3, 2009

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Sixth-ranked California won the 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-medley relay en route to its first-day lead at the 2009 AT&T Short Course National Championships on Thursday at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center. The Golden Bears have 127 points to lead the field in the team standings through five events. Also on Thursday, Cal freshman diver Kelsey Heiken placed eighth in the three-meter springboard final on the first day of the Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Invitational in Austin, Texas.

"We had a great first day here," Cal head coach Teri McKeever said. "Highlights were winning the 200-free relay and 400-medley relay. The 500 was great, getting three in the final, with Katie Kastes breaking into the school's top 10. In the IM, Heather White was good and Katie did a great double there. Caitlin got disqualified in the morning prelim, so that was a hiccup. We have a lot of energy, and we hope to keep it going tomorrow and Saturday."

The Cal foursome of senior Amanda Larson, sophomore Colleen Fotsch, junior Erica Dagg and sophomore Liv Jensen opened the evening finals with a win in the 200-free relay. The Bears swam an NCAA B qualifying time of 1:31.64. The Cal B quartet of freshman Caitlin Leverenz, junior Amanda Sims, senior Lauren Boyle and sophomore Sara Isakovic won the 200-free B final and placed ninth overall in a time of 1:33.49.

Kastes, a junior, first moved into Cal's 500-freestyle record books this morning, when she swam a time of 4:42.34 to rank ninth on the school's all-time top-10 list. She improved on the time, clocking a 4:42.03 to take fifth place in the evening final. Her time, which is also an NCAA B qualifying time, still ranks her ninth all time at Cal.

Boyle and Isakovic also reached the 500-free final. Boyle finished sixth with an NCAA B time of 4:42.31, while Isakovic was eighth in an NCAA B time of 4:48.18.

Kastes didn't have much time to rest before her next race, the 200-individual medley, which the women swam after the men's 500-free finals ended. Cal posted two NCAA B times in the 200 IM, with White, a senior, placing 13th overall in a time of 2:00.56 in the B final and Kastes swimming a time of 2:00.63 to win the C final and finish 17th overall.

In the B final of the 50 free, Jensen swam an NCAA B qualifying time of 22.97, while Dagg was second in the C final and 18th overall in 23.25.

The Bears closed the night with its win in the 400-medley relay. The Cal A relay of Dagg, Leverenz, Sims and Jensen posted an NCAA B time of 3:37.09 to claim victory.

Former Cal stars Dana Vollmer and Madison Kennedy, who were instrumental in the Bears' first NCAA and Pac-10 championships last season, also swam at the short course championships as members of the California Aquatics club. Vollmer, the 2009 NCAA Swimmer of the year, took fourth place in the 50 free in a time of 22.30 and placed 10th in the 200 IM in a time of 1:59.05. Kennedy won the B final of the 50 free in a time of 22.75 to finish ninth overall in the sprint.

The Cal swimmers continue competition in the short course nationals in Washington and the Cal divers continue action in Texas on Friday.

Cal Results from 2009 AT&T Short Course National Championships
Dec. 3 in Federal Way, Wash. Finals

Finals

200-Freestyle Relay

1. Cal A (Amanda Larson, Colleen Fotsch, Erica Dagg, Liv Jensen) 1:31.64*. 9. Cal B (Caitlin Leverenz, Amanda Sims, Lauren Boyle, Sara Isakovic) 1:33.49.

500-Yard Freestyle
5. Katie Kastes 4:42.03*. 6. Lauren Boyle 4:42.31*. 8. Sara Isakovic 4:48.18*. 12. Shelley Harper 4:47.27*. 18. Blake Hayter 4:47.72*.

200-Yard Individual Medley
13. Heather White 2:00.56*. 17. Katie Kastes 2:00.63*. 23. Courtney Eronemo 2:03.63.

50-Yard Freestyle
11. Liv Jensen 22.97*. 18. Erica Dagg 23.25.

400-Yard Medley Relay
1. Cal A (Erica Dagg, Caitlin Leverenz, Amanda Sims, Liv Jensen) 3:37.09*. 8. Cal B (Colleen Fotsch, Alexandra Ellis, Sara Isakovic, Amanda Larson) 3:43.39.

Preliminary Round

200-Freestyle Relay

1. Cal A (Erica Dagg, Colleen Fotsch, Amanda Larson, Liv Jensen) 1:32.34*. 9. Cal B (Amanda Sims, Lauren Boyle, Sara Isakovic, Caitlin Leverenz) 1:34.25.

500-Yard Freestyle
4. Katie Kastes 4:42.34*. 5. Lauren Boyle 4:43.59*. 7. Sara Isakovic 4:44.99*. 15. Shelley Harper 4:48.07*. 22. Blake Hayter 4:51.04*.

200-Yard Individual Medley
13. Heather White 2:00.62*. 21. Katie Kastes 2:01.69*. 23. Courtney Eronemo 2:01.75*. 38. Shelley Harper 2:03.33. 56. Alexandra Ellis 2:05.07. 64. Ellie Monobe 2:06.06. - Caitlin Leverenz DQ.

50-Yard Freestyle
12. Liv Jensen 23.02*. 18. Erica Dagg 23.28. 29. Amanda Larson 23.55. 45. Colleen Fotsch 23.76. 61t. Amanda Sims 23.98.

* NCAA B qualifying time

Cal Results from 2009 Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Invitational
Dec. 3 in Austin, Texas

Three-Meter Springboard Final
8. Kelsey Heiken 256.65.

Three-Meter Springboard Preliminary Round
8. Kelsey Heiken 250.95. 19. Alissa Barker 215.45.