BERKELEY – Cal opened its 2021 dual-meet season against USC Friday at Spieker Aquatics Complex, coming through with a blistering set of times that included a school record, a pool record and multiple marks that rank among the top 10 in the country.
 
The Bears and Trojans competed in eight swimming races and two diving competitions Friday, and will return to the pool Saturday for nine more races to complete the two-day meet. Through the first day, Cal leads, 110-35, with diving and the second-day results to be added to the totals.
 
The Bears began and ended the day with NCAA A qualifying relay results, with both finishes ranking as the third-fastest in the country so far this year. The foursome of Isabelle Stadden, Ema Rajic, Isabel Ivey and Robin Neumann completed the 400 medley relay in 3:29.22, while the team of Eloise Riley, Neumann, Emily Gantriis and Ivey closed out the 200 free relay in 1:27.78. The free relay set the Cal dual-meet record and lowered Spieker Aquatics Complex mark by nearly four seconds.
 
Overall, the Bears won seven of the eight swimming events. However, in the one race they took second, Rajic broke her own school record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 58.79. USC's Kaitlyn Dobler won in a pool-record 58.31.
 
In the 200 individual medley, Ivey took down Caitlyn Leverenz's 9-year-old dual-meet record with a time of 1:55.54. Her time puts her seventh in the country this year. Sarah DiMeco also moved up to fourth all-time at Cal in the 1000 free with a winning time of 9:44.10 (#5 in the country).
 
The Bears' other swimming victories came in the 100 back – Tea Laughlin (54.07), Rachel Klinker (1:55.85) and Neumann (100 free (48.34).
 
In diving, Briana Thai captured the 1-meter competition with a score of 299.25, and she took fourth on platform at 239.18.
 
Under current Pac-12 and local public health protocols, no fans are permitted to attend meets in Berkeley. Fans can follow along on the Cal women's swimming & diving social media accounts on Twitter (@CalWSwim), Facebook (facebook.com/CalWomensSwimmingandDiving) and Instagram (@CalWSwim).