March 16, 2012

Recap |  Results

Day 2 Finals - Cal Quotes

Caitlin Leverenz

On all of the records Cal has broken this week

"We joke about there being something in the water, something magical in the pool at Spieker (Aquatics Complex), because it's just been an amazing night. I can't even begin to put it into words, how cool it was starting out with the relay and then the 400 IM. I'm really happy with my time and going a 3:57 and breaking an American record. Katinka (Hosszu, who won the 400 IM for USC) is an amazing competitor, so I was really happy with that. Then, watching Sara (Isakovic) win the 100 fly, Cindy (Tran) win the 100 back and just so many people dropping so much time, I think it is just really a testament to how good of a coach Teri (McKeever) is and both Teri and Kristen (Cunnane) and our whole staff are and what a tremendous job our team has done working the entire year. And you know we are putting it together at the right time."

On if she thought they would break the American, NCAA, etc., records in the 200-yard medley relay to get the night started

"I think we thought we had a chance, but going a 1:34 was probably faster than we thought we could go. It is just so cool because that is the same relay that we had last year. I remember going into last year, we were like 'Alright, we can break this American record. All we have to do is go solid times.' Then when we did it last year it was so cool, and then this year it was the same relay coming back. I think this year we weren't focusing on 'Let's get the record,' we were just focusing on `Let's see how fast we can be.' We went almost a second faster than our (2011) time, so we were really happy with that."

On where she felt she needed to be in the 400 IM after the backstroke leg tonight

"I tried to a lot to stay in my own race. I try not to focus too much on where the others were, especially because Katinka was far enough away to where I couldn't really see her until the freestyle. I think I always just kind of stick right by (Florida's Elizabeth) Beisel. It is like we have always kind of done that, so I knew I was pretty close to her, and as soon as I turned my breaststroke, I just was `Alright, it is time to go.'"

On if she thinks NCAAs are getting more competitive this year

"Definitely, like the 400 IM Katinka and I were just talking about how there had only been three or four women under four minutes. Well, really Julia (Smit, the former Stanford star) and Katinka were the only two people under four for a long time and then Elizabeth and I joined the club. Now Maya (DiRado from Stanford) joined it as well, so 400 IM, just as an example, was a really fast heat. It is just cool to see how many girls have gone so fast. This NCAAs being in an Olympic year and everything, people are stepping it up. Megan Romano going a 1:41 (to win the 200 free for Georgia) is amazing; that is huge."

Sara Isakovic

On her 100-butterfly performance

"I initially wasn't intending on swimming this event because 200 free is my main event, but since my fly has been feeling really good all year, my coach asked if I wanted to do it, and I was up for it. I tried it at Pac-12, and my fly felt really good. I was excited about winning that title, too. I came into it wanting to have fun and was excited to see how fast I could go here. It was my first time swimming it and winning it. It's my senior year, and it feels really special."

On how hard it was to come back in back-to-back races - the 100 fly and then the 200 free

"I was overwhelmed, full of emotion and excited that I won. I tried to focus on my next race. Mentally I felt prepared and I was up for it, but my body just couldn't do it. I tried my best and scored that one point. I was a little upset in the morning that I didn't make it into the top eight, but I gave all my energy into the 800-free relay."

Cindy Tran

On the fast times tonight, especially from her team

"Not just with our team. I feel like this meet is just one of the fastest NCAAs we have had ever. With Caitlin and the IMs especially, they are so fast. It is like they are breaking down these barriers that even Caitlin didn't think that she could do. It is just incredible to watch."

On why the times are so fast

"I think we are just so motivated and we have just put so much heart into it this year. Not just at this meet, but from the beginning we have been preparing, and now it is show time. It's a performance. It's fun."

On if she felt pressure coming in as the defending champion of the 100 backstroke

"For a year, yeah, and then I did well at Pac-12s (repeating as 100-back champ), and that gave me a little more confidence because I wasn't doing as well as I would've liked this year. But I was able to refocus. I am always a little anxious about it, but I think now that I have had two experiences with it, it will be a little bit more fun next year. It will be more experience."

On if she was happy with her time of 50.31 in winning the 100-back final

"I was hoping to go a little faster, but for my first time doing this double, I'll take it."

On if there is a difference in competition at NCAAs this year because it is an Olympic year

"I feel like it is a lot more heightened and the stress is a little more heightened, but Caitlin and Teri, being our coach, I feel like they have a lot of pressure on them. But they are able to just live and learn now. They are doing great."

On if she thinks her teammates keep Olympic Trials in mind even though it is NCAA season

"Most of us are, but right now it is `This is where we are and this is all we are focused on.' We just have to take it one meet at a time."