BERKELEY – In a close meet expected between two of the best teams in the country, No. 3 California surged past No. 2 Stanford late to win, 158-142, before a packed Spieker Aquatics Complex. The Golden Bears clinched the outcome with a sweep of the 200-yard individual medley – the next-to-last event – when Elizabeth Pelton, Missy Franklin and Celina Li placed first, second and third.
The competition attracted a record crowd to Cal's pool with dozens of fans lining up more than two hours ahead of the 11 a.m. start to try to get a seat. At one point the line extended more than halfway around the adjacent Haas Pavilion and eventually more than 1,000 fans filled the bleachers, lined the pool at the diving end and even watched from the upper windows of Haas overhead.
While each team won eight races and the lead changed hands several times, Cal's depth help provide the difference. In addition to the 200 IM, Cierra Runge, Catherine Breed and Melanie Klaren went 1-2-3 in the 1000 freestyle, Franklin and Pelton took the top two spots in the 200 backstroke, and Runge and Breed repeated their finish at the head of the pack in the 500 free..
“I think today went great with the victory, but I think the thing I'm most proud of is just the fight in the group,” head coach Teri McKeever said. “Today, they were ready to go. We didn't need to say anything else. They knew what to do. A lot of different people stepped up.”
The meet served as the final home competition for eight Golden Bear seniors – Kaylin Bing, Catherine Breed, Camille Cheng, Eva Greene, Melanie Klaren, Yvette Kong, Taylor Nanfria and Caroline Piehl. Combined, they have helped the Bears to a trio of top-three NCAA finishes, including a title as freshmen in 2012, and each has earned either Pac-12 All-Academic or Scholar All-American honors.
“It was a weird combination of wanting to cry but being so happy because it doesn't get any better than this – the team, the atmosphere and just everyone giving it their all,” Breed said.
In addition to her IM victory, Pelton nipped Stanford's Ally Howe to claim the 100 back in 53.63. Jasmine Mau (third) and Kelly Naze (fourth) were right behind. Then in the 200 butterfly, freshman Noemie Thomas got to the all first ahead of Janet Hu of the Cardinal to win 1:58.00 to 1:58.05. The Bears scored additional points with Rachel Bootsma third and Li fourth.
Cal picked up some significant points on the three-meter board when diver Anne Kastler topped the field with a score of 333.08, which was just a point off her school record.
Still, Stanford led, 104-103, after event 11 – the 200 breaststroke. Runge and Breed then posted their 500 free results and Farida Osman claimed the 100 fly in 52.94. Although Stanford won the 1-meter diving, Cal was ahead by 10 points heading into the decisive 200 IM.
“Our strategy beforehand was that if we get 1-2, we'll win the meet and it doesn't matter with the relay,” said Pelton, who was timed in 1:58.76. “Everyone did their own race, but the outcome was exactly what we wanted.”
Added Franklin, who plans to turn pro after the season and was also swimming in her final dual meet as a Bear: “Extremely emotional day on so many levels. Personally, knowing this was my last dual meet. Emotionally, because my eight best friends are all seniors and it's their last dual meet. I don't think we could have asked for a better day. The crowd that came out was just unreal and that means so much to us.”
The Bears now take a week off before traveling to Federal Way, Washington, for the Pac-12 Championships Feb. 25-28.
