Oct. 21, 2011
Results
BERKELEY -
California won every swimming event and one of two diving events to handily defeat Utah, 174-105, in a Pac-12 Conference dual meet on a sunny Friday afternoon at Spieker Aquatics Complex. The defending NCAA champion Golden Bears improved their record to 2-0 (2-0 in the Pac-12), while the Utes (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) suffered their first defeat.
The Cal men also beat their Utah counterparts today, 158-119.
"I put the women in some more challenging double events and looked to get them multiple swims in a shorter period of time than usual" Cal head coach Teri McKeever said. "A lot of our freshmen stepped up, and we had a lot of great leadership from Liv Jensen and Shelley Harper. Katherine Raatz and Colleen Fotsch did nice jobs today. It's great to have the men here, and we really, really appreciate that Utah came out. Overall, it was pretty good."
For the women, Cal senior Sara Isakovic, junior Caitlin Leverenz and freshman Yvette Kong were the meet's multiple individual winners. Isakovic, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist in the 200-meter freestyle, captured the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:49.07 and the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 54.89.
Leverenz won the 200 butterfly in a time of 1:57.25 and the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:11.44. Both times meet NCAA B qualifying standards. Known for her success in the breaststroke (she holds the Cal record of 2:06.23) and the individual medley (she also holds the 400 IM school record of 4:01.72), Leverenz is no slouch in the 200 fly. She ranks seventh all time in the 200 fly at Cal with a time of 1:55.48.
Kong, the Hong Kong record holder in the long-course and short-course breaststroke events, won the 100-yard breaststroke today in a time of 1:02.57 (NCAA B qualifier) and finished first in the 400 IM in a time of 4:27.82.
Cal senior diver Molly Hayes had a strong day, notching a win in the one-meter springboard (287.70) and taking second place in the three-meter board (295.05). Utah's only victory of the day was on the three-meter board, with Ellis Walters winning (295.13).
Hayes' marks in both events met NCAA regional qualifying standards, as did
Cal sophomore Kahley Rowell's 285.00 (3rd place) at three meters.
The Bears' six other individual victors were seniors Harper (10:00.99 in the 1000 free), Jensen (50.91, 100 free) and Katherine Raatz (23.48, 50 free); sophomores Cindy Tran (55.30, 100 backstroke) and Samantha Shellem (4:55.49, 500 free); and freshman Melanie Klaren (1:59.85, 200 back).
Cal began the meet by winning the 200-medley relay and ended the day by capturing the 400-free relay. Tran, sophomore Melissa Bates, senior Colleen Fotsch and Jensen combined to clock the first-place time of 1:40.48 (NCAA B qualifier) in the medley relay. The Cal quartet of Isakovic, Leverenz, Fotsch and sophomore Stephanie Au posted the top time of 3:26.82 in the free relay.
The Bears return to Spieker for another Pac-12 dual meet, this time against Washington State, at 1 p.m. on Nov. 4.
