BERKELEY – California earned a 170-129 dual-meet victory over USC Friday with some fast swims at the top of the lineup and showcased its depth with key second- and third-place finishes throughout the afternoon.
 
On a cool, rainy day at Spieker Aquatics Complex, the Golden Bears claimed 10 of 16 events. And perhaps just as important, posted six 1-2 finishes, including two races – the 100- and 200-yard butterfly – where they took the first three spots.
 
Cal opened the meet with a quick 200 medley relay, as the foursome of Amy Bilquist, Ema Rajic, Katie McLaughlin and Abbey Weitzeil touched the wall in 1:38.42. USC held a half-second advantage midway through the race and the teams were virtually tied with only the 50 free remaining, but Weitzeil's 21.35 split ensured the Bear victory.
 
After USC took the top two places in the 1000 free, Neumann and freshman Isabel Ivey duplicated the feat in the 200 free with both Cal swimmers under 1:47. Bilquist then just edged Louise Hansson in the 100 back, 52.82 to 53.00.
 
Rajic held her own against a strong USC contingent in the 100 breast, taking second, before McLaughlin, Sarah Darcel and Cassidy Bayer placed 1-2-3 in the 200 fly, with McLaughlin's 1:55.50 leading the way.
 
Weitzeil then sprinted 21.92 in the 50 free, breaking the both Cal dual-meet and pool records. Weitzeil had held the dual mark with a time of 22.04, while she lowered the pool record of 21.97 set by Stanford's Simone Manual in 2017.
 
Weitzeil returned to the victory stand one event later with a win in the 100 free, as McLaughlin took second. Hansson then edged Bilquist in a backstroke rematch, winning the 200-yard event, 1:54.53 to 1:54.84, while Rajic was Cal's top swimmer in the 200 break with her third-place result.
 
In diving, Briana Thai led the Bears with a third-place showing on the 1-meter board, and Kathleen Navas took third for Cal on 3-meter with a 20-point personal-best score of 295.73.
 
The Bears closed the swimming portion of the meet with a flourish. Neumann and Bayer went 1-2 in the 500 free, McLaughlin, Maddie Murphy and Ivey claimed the top 3 spots in the 100 fly, and Darcel and Alicia Wilson posted a Cal double in the 200 IM. The Bears wrapped up with an exciting win in the 400 free relay as Neumann, Murphy, Bilquist and Weitzeil came from more than two seconds back after two legs to win in 3:17.11 to USC's 3:17.52.
 
Cal returns to action Saturday, hosting UCLA Spieker Aquatics Complex at noon. Diving begins at 11:30 at Legends Aquatic Center and will feature a 10-meter platform exhibition. The Bears close out their regular season at home vs. Stanford on Saturday, Feb. 16.