BERKELEY – Cal and San Jose State competed a most unusual of dual meets Wednesday, an afternoon that included such events as the 300-yard backstroke relay, a 300-yard individual medley swum in reverse order, and a 150-yard breaststroke. In the end, the Golden Bears claimed all 12 events and emerged with a 163-63 victory at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
 
Only the 50 free and 1-meter and 3-meter diving would be considered "normal" dual-meet events. The competition began with the backstroke relay, followed by similar 300-yard relays in the breaststroke and butterfly. The day concluded with a 250-yard free relay with legs of 25, 50, 75 and 100 yards that could go in any order.
 
"It gives us something to shoot for in a fun environment and close out the year right after final exams," Cal head coach Teri McKeever said. "We're going to make a whole day of it by going to a movie and a team dinner tonight. We've been having some good training and have two-and-a-half days left before a break for the holidays. Having the meet in the middle give us some purpose and intention, and I appreciate that San Jose State and Sage (Hopkins) are willing to compete this week and do some unusual things."
 
The eight individual events went to eight different Golden Bears – Keaton Blovad (300 IM, 3:18.39), Jenna Campbell (150 fly, 1:28.11), Amy Bilquist (50 free, 23.17), Abbey Weitzeil (150 back, 1:28.21), Katie McLaughlin (300 free, 2:48.06), Ali Harrison (150 breast, 1:42.40), Jackie Im (1-meter, 238.65) and Briana Thai (3-meter, 282.15).
 
For the final 250 free relay, the Bears lined up their teams by class. The Cal juniors – Weitzeil, Blovad, Maddie Murphy and Aislinn Light – got to the wall first in 2:00.37, just ahead of the Golden Bear senior squad of Bilquist, Campbell, McLaughlin and diver Phoebe LaMay that touched in 2:02.92.
 
Cal has a break from competition until after the New Year. The Bruin Diving Invitational Jan. 18-20 starts the month, with the first dual meets Jan. 25-26 at Arizona State and Arizona. The Bears' remaining home dates are Feb. 1 vs. USC, Feb. 2 vs. UCLA and Feb. 16 against Stanford.