SAN LUIS OBISPO – Showing she once again ranks among Cal royalty, junior Celina Li captured her third consecutive the Queen of the Pool title at the Golden Bears' season-opening meet Friday at Cal Poly.

The unique competition, featuring swimmers from Cal and Cal Poly, combines 100-yard times from five races – 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard individual medley – to determine an overall winner.

Li placed first with a time of 4:47.80, just edging out senior Kelly Naze, who was clocked in 4:48.14. Senior Elizabeth Pelton was third in 4:50.69, followed by freshman Amy Bilquist in 4:52.41 and senior Rachel Bootsma in 4:54.37.

Five different Bears won individual races with freshman Katie McLaughlin first in the 100 fly (54.81), Bootsma winning the 100 back (56.00), Marina Garcia taking the 100 breast (1:04.11), Bilquist claiming the 100 free (51.26) and Li prevailing in the 100 IM (57.12).

Cal returns to action Oct. 9 and 10 when the Bears travel for back-to-back dual meets at Washington State. Cal then hosts a pair of duals at Spieker Aquatics Complex with Utah visiting Thursday, Oct. 15 (5 p.m.) and San Jose State making the short trip Friday, Oct. 30 (2 p.m.). Admission to Cal home meets is free.