AUSTIN, Texas – Cal kicked off the 2019 NCAA Championships by setting a pair of school records in the opening 800-yard free relay, as the Golden Bears finished third in the opening race Wednesday night.
 
Andrew Seliskar led off the event, swimming the first 200 yards in 1:30.14 to lower his own Cal 200 free mark set earlier this season in Georgia. Then the trio of Bryce Mefford, Trenton Julian and Mike Thomas completed the relay in 6:07.31 for another school record. The old mark was 6:09.56 and dated back to the 2017 season.
 
Texas, racing in its home pool, won the relay in an American-record 6:05.08 with North Carolina State second in 6:06.63.
 
The NCAA meet resumes Thursday at 8 a.m. PT with prelims in the 200 free relay, 500 free, 200 individual medley, 50 free and 400 medley relay. Diving qualifying on the 1-meter board will follow, with finals set to begin at 4 p.m. PT.