FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Cal sophomore Leah Polonsky won her first career Pac-12 championship Thursday evening, edging teammate Isabelle Stadden to capture the 200-yard individual medley at the 2023 Pac-12 Championships at Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.

Polonsky's winning time of 1:54.02 is the seventh-fastest mark in the nation in the event this season. Stadden, a two-time Pac-12 champion in the 200 breaststroke, placed second with a time of 1:55.52.

"I wanted to do my best time," Polonsky told the Pac-12 Network after the race. "I just had to stay focused, swim my race, and do my best."

Stadden, who qualified first during Thursday morning's prelims, led the field after the backstroke leg of the race. But Polonsky, who holds Cal's sixth-fastest time ever in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events, overtook her teammate after the breaststroke leg and held on through the freestyle portion of the event to win the title.

"I just tried to give everything I can, especially in the breaststroke because I know that's my power," Polonsky told the Pac-12 Network.

After opening the Pac-12 Championships by winning the conference crown in the 200 medley relay on Wednesday evening, the Bears recorded their second runner-up relay finish Thursday in the 200 freestyle relay. Cal's team of Emma Davidson, Stadden, McKenna Stone and Eloise Riley placed second with a time of 1:28.51 – the Bears' best mark this season in the event.

The Bears had two swimmers reach the finals of the 500 freestyle event, including senior Ayla Spitz, who was the top qualifier during prelims. Spitz ended up finishing fifth with teammate Mia Motekaitis placing sixth.

Sophomore Stephanie Akakabota, who entered the Pac-12 Championships seeded 15^th in the 50 free, qualified sixth during prelims and finished eighth in the finals with a time of 22.61.

The Bears are in second place in the team standings after the second day of competition with 454 points. Stanford leads with 540 points.

The Pac-12 Championships resume Friday with the 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 400 medley relay.
 

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