Dec. 4, 2009

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Freshman Caitlin Leverenz broke her own record in the 400-yard individual medley and swam on a pair of winning relays for sixth-ranked California on the second day of the 2009 AT&T Short Course National Championships on Friday at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center. The Golden Bears also remained in first place in the team standings, with 246 points.

Leverenz swam a 400-IM time of 4:06.69, an NCAA automatic qualifying time that earned her fourth place in tonight's final. She also moved up to fifth place on the Golden Bears' all-time top 10 list for the 100-yard breaststroke when she swam an NCAA B qualifying time of 1:01.56 to finish 14th on Friday.

Another newcomer, Bears junior Katie Kastes, likewise had an impact on the Cal record books tonight. She posted a time of 4:13.22 to claim seventh place in the 400 IM final and move into sixth place on the Bears' all-time top 10 list

Also on Friday, Cal freshman diver Kelsey Heiken finished in sixth place on the one-meter springboard at the Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Invitational in Austin, Texas.

Cal opened the evening finals session by triumphing in the 200-yard medley relay, with junior Erica Dagg, Leverenz, junior Amanda Sims and sophomore Liv Jensen posting an NCAA B qualifying time of 1:40.05. The Cal B foursome of sophomore Colleen Fotsch, senior Alexandra Ellis, senior Amanda Larson and sophomore Sara Isakovic finished fifth in an NCAA B qualifying time of 1:42.64.

Sims clocked Cal's best time in the 100 butterfly, with an NCAA B qualifying-52.96, to take second. Isakovic was fourth in the 200 freestyle with an NCAA B qualifying time of 1:44.95. Former Cal star Dana Vollmer, competing for the California Aquatics club, won both the 100-fly (51.39) and 200-free (meet-record 1:42.36) finals.

Dagg posted Cal's best time - 55.36 - in the 100 backstroke in the morning preliminary heats and placed 19th in the evening finals at 55.52. Both times were NCAA B qualifying times.

The Bears won their second relay of the night with Leverenz, senior Lauren Boyle, Jensen and Isakovic swimming an NCAA B qualifying time of 7:07.11 to claim the 800-free relay. The Cal B quartet of Hayter, Kastes, senior Heather White and Dagg came in third with an NCAA B qualifying time of 7:17.75.

The short course nationals and Texas meet will each conclude on Saturday with a third day of competition.

Cal Results from 2009 AT&T Short Course National Championships
Dec. 4 in Federal Way, Wash.

Finals

200-Yard Medley Relay

1. Cal A (Erica Dagg, Caitlin Leverenz, Amanda Sims, Liv Jensen) 1:40.05*. 5. Cal B (Colleen Fotsch, Alexandra Ellis, Amanda Larson, Sara Isakovic) 1:42.64*.

400-Yard Individual Medley
4. Caitlin Leverenz 4:06.69^. 7. Katie Kastes 4:13.22*. 20. Courtney Eronemo 4:20.37.

100-Yard Butterfly
2. Amanda Sims 52.96*. 17. Colleen Fotsch 54.57*. 24. Amanda Larson 56.13.

200-Yard Freestyle
4. Sara Isakovic 1:44.95*. 9. Lauren Boyle 1:46.27*.

100-Yard Breaststroke
14. Caitlin Leverenz 1:01.56*. 20. Alexandra Ellis 1:02.49*.

100-Yard Backstroke
19. Erica Dagg 55.52*.

800-Yard Freestyle Relay
1. Cal A (Caitlin Leverenz, Lauren Boyle, Liv Jensen, Sara Isakovic) 7:07.11*. 3. Cal B (Blake Hayter, Katie Kastes, Heather White, Erica Dagg) 7:17.75*.

Preliminary Round

200-Yard Medley Relay

1. Cal A (Erica Dagg, Caitlin Leverenz, Amanda Sims, Liv Jensen) 1:41.22*. 5. Cal B (Colleen Fotsch, Alexandra Ellis, Amanda Larson, Sara Isakovic) 1:43.11.

400-Yard Individual Medley
3. Caitlin Leverenz 4:09.36*. 8. Katie Kastes 4:14.43*. 24. Courtney Eronemo 4:21.55. 33. Shelley Harper 4:24.00. - Heather White DQ.

100-Yard Butterfly
2. Amanda Sims 53.36*. 21. Colleen Fotsch 55.42. 25. Amanda Larson 55.82. 81. Ellie Monobe 57.93.

200-Yard Freestyle
5. Sara Isakovic 1:46.02*. 9. Lauren Boyle 1:47.63*. 26. Liv Jensen 1:49.53. 27. Blake Hayter 1:49.59. 30. Katie Kastes 1:49.89. 39. Amanda Larson 1:50.59. 56. Erica Dagg 1:51.79.

100-Yard Breaststroke
17. Caitlin Leverenz 1:01.91*. 20. Alexandra Ellis 1:02.69*. 69. Ellie Monobe 1:06.58.

100-Yard Backstroke
20. Erica Dagg 55.36*. 41. Heather White 57.12. 45. Samantha Pearson 57.28. 46. Colleen Fotsch 57.38.

^ NCAA automatic qualifying time
* NCAA B qualifying time

Cal Results from 2009 Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame Invitational
Dec. 4 in Austin, Texas

One-Meter Springboard Final

6. Kelsey Heiken 252.90.

One -Meter Springboard Preliminary Round
7. Kelsey Heiken 234.40. 21. Alissa Barker 205.05.