AUSTIN, Texas – Cal kicked off the NCAA Championships by setting a school record in the 800-yard free relay, as the Golden Bears touched the wall in 6:50.12 to take second place in the opening race of the meet Wednesday.
 
Sophomore Robin Neumann led off with a 1:42.94 split, which is a personal best for her and ranks as the ninth-fastest 200 free in school history. Isabel Ivey, Katie McLaughlin and Amy Bilquist followed to complete the relay. Cal's time broke the previous mark of 6:50.18 set in 2015 and was more than half a second faster than the Bears' winning time at the Pac-12 Championships three weeks ago.
 
Stanford won the race in 6:47.22
 
Cal is back in the water Thursday with prelims in the 200 free relay, 500 free, 200 individual medley, 50 free, 400 medley relay and 1-meter diving.