June 14, 2005
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -
Former California swimmer Natalie Coughlin, leading a large contingent of Golden Bears, won the 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke at the Counsilman Classic, held June 10-12 at the IUPUI Natatorium.
The Counsilman Classic was the second stop on USA Swimming's Grand Prix Circuit leading up to the FINA World Championships, July 24-31 in Montreal, Canada. It is the only non-California meet of the series, which includes the Santa Clara Invitational, June 24-26 in Santa Clara, and the Janet Evans Invitational, July 14-17 in Los Angeles.
Coughlin, swimming for the Cal Aquatics club, won the 200 free in a time of 2:00.31, the 100 back in 1:01.12 and the 100 free in 54.66. The 200 free included other Bears also swimming for Cal Aquatics: Erin Reilly, who will be a junior next year at Cal, was fourth (2:03.25), graduated senior Lauren Medina won the consolation final to take ninth (2:03.22), Emily Silver, who will be a sophomore next fall, was 14th (2:05.57), and returning senior Ashley Chandler was 23rd (2:09.69).
In the 100 breaststroke, returning junior Genevieve Patterson was 10th (1:14.73). Both swam for Cal Aquatics. In the 100 butterfly, Babicz took fifth (1:03.32), returning sophomore Rachel Ridgeway (Cal Aquatics) was ninth (1:03.11), and Reilly was 17th (1:03.93). The Cal Aquatics team of returning senior Helen Silver, Patterson, returning junior Sherry Tsai and returning junior Lauren Andrews closed out Friday by winning the 400 free relay (3:55.23).
Ridgeway was fourth in the 200 fly (2:18.85) in the first event on Saturday. The 50 free had three Bears in the finals: Emily Silver was third (26.62), Babicz was fourth (26.63) and Reilly was ninth (26.65). Coughlin swam a meet-record to win the 100 back, which featured three other Bears in the top eight: Tsai was fourth (1:03.92), Helen Silver took fifth (1:04.08) and Andrews was seventh (1:04.98). Patterson scored points with a 19th-place finish (2:46.43) in the 200 breaststroke. Two Bears reached the 400 free finals: Reilly was fifth (4:22.87) and Chandler was ninth (4:15.80). In the final race on Saturday, Cal Aquatics (Helen Silver, Patterson, Ridgeway, Emily Silver) won the 400 medley relay (4:22.30).
Chandler took third (8:48.14) in the 800 free, the first event on Sunday. In the 200 IM, Emily Silver was third (2:20.20), Tsai finished fourth (2:23.78) and Babicz was 10th (2:22.82). Helen Silver won the 200 back (2:16.55), while Andrews was third (2:18.68) and Tsai finished 11th (2:23.81). After a tornado warning delayed the start of the 100 free final about five minutes, Cal products finished 1-2-3-4 and 18-19 in the meet's final event. Coughlin's winning time of 54.66 set a new meet record. Silver (57.10), Medina (57.13) and Reilly (57.13) followed in second and a two-way tie for third, respectively. Babicz was 18th (58.68) and Andrews took 19th (58.74).
Cal Aquatics finished second at the meet, to U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps' Club Wolverine, with 672 points.
