NCAA Div. I Men: Cal Takes a Commanding Lead After Day One of the Dallas Morning News Classic

DALLAS, January 17. ONE of these seasons, Cal's vaunted corps of sprinters and stroke specialists is going to…win NCAAs.

Maybe this year.

For the second consecutive year, Coach Nort Thornton's No. 3-ranked Cal Golden Bears — who did in fact win back-to-back NCAA Championships two decades ago but never quite made it to the top during the Matt Biondi era — shattered three meet records on Day One of the Dallas Morning News Classic this evening at Perkins Natatorium.

Instead of just adding two pool records, as the Bears did last year, Cal broke three Perkins' marks and leads the Classic with 186 points. No. 6 Florida is second (157) while No. 7 Minnesota is third (136). Host SMU is in sixth place with 113 points.

Cal wasted no time, breaking the meet- and pool-record in the Classic's opening race, the 400 medley relay, as they posted a seasonal-best 3:12.10. The time broke the old mark, set by Tennessee in 1996, of 3:15.63 and also tops their previous seasonal best of 3:12.15 from the Longhorn Invitational at Texas last month.

However, they're still No. 2 nationally as Texas' 3:10+ from the same meet ranks first.

The Bears' Malayasian Olympian, junior Alex Lim, who ranks second in the 100 back (46.83), led off with a relatively modest 48.09. However, Croatian Olympian Duje Draganja's 42.69 anchor gave Cal the win and the record going away.

Georgia's Robert Margalis, last season's NCAA runner-up in the 400 IM, followed with a national qualifying-time of 3:48.00 in his specialty to put Coach Jack Bauerle's Bulldogs on the board.

Margalis is the Georgia record-holder as a freshman last season (3:41.42). He ranks No. 2 all-time among Southeastern Conference swimmers to former Florida NCAA champ Greg Burgess' 3:40.64; and the latter's time is the second-fastest performance ever.

(Double Olympic gold-medalist Tom Dolan, when he was at Michigan in the mid-'90s, set the current American/ NCAA record with his 3:38.18 from the '95 national collegiate championships in Indianapolis — coincidentally won by Michigan too.)

In the Classic's fourth event, Cal freshman Michael Cavic, Swimming World's prep Swimmer of the Year last season for Tustin High in Southern California, won in a season-best 19.85. His previous 2002-'03 pr, a 19.91 from Texas, had ranked him second nationally so he stays put but improves upon his in-season best.

His career pr is a 19.61 from last spring's national club swimming championships at Belmont Plaza.

Cavic got his name into the record book with his next swim, setting a pool- and meet-record in the 100 butterfly. His winning time, a pr 46.94, broke broke SMU's Olympic and World Championship gold medalist Lars Frolander's 47.64 from a few seasons back.

Cavic is now No. 2 to teammate Lim's Cal-record 46.76, also from Texas. When Pac-10s and NCAAs roll around, look for this duo to make things quite interesting for Stanford's Peter Marshall, Matt MacDonald, Jayme Cramer and — lest we forget — double-defending NCAA champ Ian Crocker of Texas. Crocker is American/NCAA record-holder with his 45.44 from last season's championships.

(Biondi went a 46.33 pr during his career but that swim was done while representing Thornton's son Rich's San Ramon Valley team.)

Arizona State's Joona Puhakka broke the two-year-old pool and meet-record in the one-meter diving competition with his score of 391.50. The old mark, set in 2001, was 374.45.

Now it was Lim's turn to shine and he didn't disappoint, breaking his own meet- and pool-record of 47.62 in the 100 back — set last year — with a fast 46.99. Cal senior Quentin Byma made it three-straight victories for the Bears when he touched first in the 100 breast with a pr 54.97 –10th nationally.

Florida won the concluding event, the 800 free relay, with a 6:35.01. That time was also a meet record, breaking Cal's mark set last season and boosts the Gators into fifth on the yearly list.

The Classic gets underway Saturday night at 7:30 PM CST.

Dallas Morning News Swimming & Diving Classic
Perkins Natatorium, Jan. 17, 2003
Team Rankings – Through Event 9

Men's Team Scores
Place School Points
1 University of California CAL 186
2 University of Florida UF 157
3 University of Minnesota UM 136
4 Arizona State University ASU 123
5 University of Georgia UGA 122
6 Southern Methodist University SMU 113

Results

25 YD. POOL
Event 1 Men 400 Yard Medley Relay
===============================================================================
Meet: * 3:15.63 1996 Tennessee
Pool: ! 3:15.63 1996 Tennessee
NCAA Qual.: & 3:12.97
School Finals Points
===============================================================================
1 University of California 3:12.10& 24
1) Lim, Alex JR 2) Byma, Quentin SR
3) Cavic, Michael FR 4) Draganja, Duje SO
23.23 48.09 1:13.47 1:42.19 2:03.60 2:29.01 2:49.32 3:12.10
2 University of Minnesota 3:17.55 20
1) Smolinski, Todd SR 2) Hackler, Jeff SR
3) Ong, Allen SR 4) Silkaitis, Terry SO
23.51 48.83 1:14.39 1:43.43 2:06.43 2:32.90 2:54.10 3:17.55
3 University of Florida 3:20.70 18
1) Kellam, Chris JR 2) Chadsey, Ian SR
3) Mangabeira, Gabriel SO 4) Jayme, Carlos JR
24.60 49.96 1:16.50 1:46.57 2:09.21 2:35.91 2:57.55 3:20.70
4 University of Georgia 3:21.39 16
1) Underhill, Colin JR 2) Gardner, Scott SO
3) Lam, Randy JR 4) Brado, Matt SR
25.12 51.85 1:17.75 1:47.23 2:09.80 2:36.05 2:58.11 3:21.39
5 Arizona State University 3:22.57 14
1) Hussein, Ahmed JR 2) MacDonald, Russell SO
3) Brunelli, Nick JR 4) Zaabadich, Bobby SR
23.97 49.59 1:16.02 1:47.26 2:10.11 2:37.13 2:58.25 3:22.57
6 Southern Methodist University 3:22.63 12
1) Nylin, Per FR 2) Kittrell, Josh SR
3) Hampson, Ric SO 4) Newton, Jono JR
24.25 51.56 1:18.31 1:48.40 2:11.61 2:38.21 2:58.95 3:22.63

Event 2 Men 400 Yard IM
===============================================================================
Meet: * 3:50.61 1994 Marcel Wouda, Michigan
Pool: ! 3:50.61 1994 Marcel Wouda, Michigan
NCAA Qual.: & 3:49.48
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Margalis, Robert SO Georgia 3:48.00& 16
25.05 53.41 1:23.00 1:52.06 2:23.75 2:56.48 3:23.28 3:48.00
2 Lochte, Ryan FR Florida 3:48.10& 13
24.94 53.65 1:23.65 1:52.42 2:25.32 2:58.00 3:23.81 3:48.10
3 Dorr, John SO California 3:51.68 12
25.08 53.57 1:22.84 1:51.62 2:24.37 2:57.64 3:24.89 3:51.68
4 Urreta, Diego JR Minnesota 4:00.26 11
26.21 55.54 1:25.61 1:55.41 2:29.94 3:04.85 3:33.11 4:00.26
5 Rodriguez, Jacob JR SMU 4:03.19 10
25.65 54.09 1:24.17 1:54.53 2:30.31 3:06.86 3:35.26 4:03.19
6 Martins, Leonardo FR Arizona State 4:08.09 9
26.62 56.90 1:29.58 2:01.84 2:35.43 3:09.51 3:39.41 4:08.09
Consolation Final
7 Molina, Miguel FR California 3:53.19 7
25.70 55.12 1:25.94 1:56.31 2:27.72 3:00.15 3:26.56 3:53.19
8 Warren, Mac FR Florida 3:57.32 5
26.08 54.76 1:25.68 1:55.82 2:29.01 3:03.33 3:30.76 3:57.32
9 Mortimer, Justin JR Minnesota 3:59.49 4
26.08 55.38 1:26.47 1:56.33 2:31.50 3:06.24 3:33.38 3:59.49
10 Salyards, Kyle JR Georgia 4:02.39 3
26.21 55.56 1:27.43 1:58.73 2:31.24 3:04.26 3:33.66 4:02.39
11 Harcsas, Christian SR Arizona State 4:04.16 2
26.22 55.49 1:25.11 1:53.75 2:29.94 3:06.90 3:36.21 4:04.16
12 Pineyro, Marcus JR SMU 4:08.00 1
26.13 56.01 1:27.39 1:58.75 2:34.72 3:12.19 3:40.20 4:08.00

Event 3 Men 200 Yard Freestyle
===============================================================================
Meet: * 1:37.33 1998 Lars Frolander, SMU
Pool: ! 1:37.33 1998 Lars Frolander, SMU
NCAA Qual.: & 1:36.39
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Sioui, Adam SO Florida 1:38.75 16
23.74 48.93 1:14.31 1:38.75
2 Silkaitis, Terry SO Minnesota 1:38.79 13
23.09 48.16 1:13.65 1:38.79
3 Bruckart, Joe SR California 1:39.28 12
23.54 49.04 1:14.10 1:39.28
4 Brunelli, Nick JR Arizona State 1:39.39 11
23.50 48.97 1:14.40 1:39.39
5 Postma, Ferdi SO SMU 1:39.74 10
23.31 48.59 1:14.11 1:39.74
6 Owen, Matthew FR Georgia 1:41.42 9
23.99 49.59 1:15.45 1:41.42
Consolation Final
7 Thiele, Jens FR California 1:38.63 7
23.00 48.67 1:13.53 1:38.63
8 Wiebeck, Kris SO Florida 1:39.28 5
23.95 49.35 1:14.14 1:39.28
9 Taylor, Matt SR Minnesota 1:39.78 4
23.52 48.90 1:14.46 1:39.78
10 White, J.D. FR SMU 1:41.29 3
23.86 49.31 1:14.97 1:41.29
11 Mahaney, Andrew JR Georgia 1:42.01 2
23.91 50.00 1:16.00 1:42.01
12 Kolozar, David FR Arizona State 1:42.81 1
23.15 48.69 1:15.65 1:42.81

Event 4 Men 50 Yard Freestyle
===============================================================================
Meet: * 19.46 01/18/2002Anthony Ervin, California-
Pool: ! 19.85 1985 Tom Jager, UCLA
NCAA Qual.: & 19.74
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Cavic, Michael FR California 19.85! 16
2 Newton, Jono JR SMU 20.43 13
3 Zaabadich, Bobby SR Arizona State 20.62 12
4 Jayme, Carlos JR Florida 20.82 11
5 Ong, Allen SR Minnesota 21.00 10
6 Gardner, Scott SO Georgia 21.29 9
Consolation Final
7 Draganja, Duje SO California 20.43 7
8 Nylin, Per FR SMU 20.50 5
9 Mangabeira, Gabrie SO Florida 20.86 4
10 Wallace, Wiley SR Arizona State 21.26 3
11 Brado, Matt SR Georgia
12 Brown, Mike FR Minnesota 22.69 1

Event 5 Men 1 Meter Diving
===============================================================================
Meet: * 374.45 2001 Dan Croaston, MN, U.S. National
Pool: ! 374.45 2001 Dan Croaston, MN, U.S. National
NCAA Qual.: & 290.00
Name Year School Finals Points
===============================================================================
1 Puhakka, Joona FR Arizona State 391.50! 16
2 Avery, Todd SO Georgia 336.90& 13
3 Dumais, Brice SR SMU 332.45& 12
4 Wilcox, Zach SO Florida 320.15& 11
5 Bartolotta, Nick SR California 294.50& 10
6 Herdt, Ben SR Minnesota 277.90 9

Event 6 Men 100 Yard Butterfly
===============================================================================
Meet: * 47.64 1998 Lars Frolander, SMU
Pool: ! 47.64 1998 Lars Frolander, SMU
NCAA Qual.: & 47.41
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Finals
1 Cavic, Michael FR California 46.94& 16
21.86 46.94
2 Mangabeira, Gabrie SO Florida 49.74 13
24.03 49.74
3 Lam, Randy JR Georgia 49.96 12
23.81 49.96
4 Kolozar, David FR Arizona State 50.21 11
23.67 50.21
5 Ong, Allen SR Minnesota 50.40 10
23.78 50.40
6 Bruckart, Joe SR California 50.59 9
24.05 50.59
Consolation Final
7 Sioui, Adam SO Florida 50.78 7
23.82 50.78
8 Hampson, Ric SO SMU 50.79 5
23.88 50.79
9 Postma, Ferdi SO SMU 50.91 4
23.82 50.91
10 Margalis, Robert SO Georgia 51.02 3
24.31 51.02
11 Taylor, Matt SR Minnesota 51.88 2
24.49 51.88
12 Zaabadich, Bobby SR Arizona State 52.25 1
24.29 52.25

Event 7 Men 100 Yard Backstroke
===============================================================================
Meet: * 47.62 01/18/2002Alex Lim, California-
Pool: ! 47.62 2002 Alex Lim, CA, Texas
NCAA Qual.: & 47.93
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Lim, Alex JR California 46.99* 16
22.36 46.99
2 Smolinski, Todd SR Minnesota 48.77 13
23.23 48.77
3 Hussein, Ahmed JR Arizona State 49.19 12
23.89 49.19
4 Kellam, Chris JR Florida 50.31 11
24.91 50.31
5 Newton, Jono JR SMU 51.56 10
24.92 51.56
6 Underhill, Colin JR Georgia 51.96 9
25.29 51.96
Consolation Final
7 Thiele, Jens FR California 49.69 7
24.38 49.69
8 Lochte, Ryan FR Florida 49.90 5
23.74 49.90
9 Harcsas, Christian SR Arizona State 49.99 4
24.80 49.99
10 Urreta, Diego JR Minnesota 50.98 3
24.97 50.98
11 Rodriguez, Jacob JR SMU 53.17 2
25.90 53.17
12 Mahaney, Andrew JR Georgia 53.82 1
26.20 53.82

Event 8 Men 100 Yard Breaststroke
===============================================================================
Meet: * 54.13 1996 Jeremy Linn, Tennessee
Pool: ! 54.13 1996 Jeremy Linn, Tennessee
NCAA Qual.: & 54.62
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Byma, Quentin SR California 54.97 16
25.75 54.97
2 Hackler, Jeff SR Minnesota 55.61 13
26.60 55.61
3 Chadsey, Ian SR Florida 56.82 12
26.87 56.82
4 Gardner, Scott SO Georgia 56.85 11
26.50 56.85
5 MacDonald, Russell SO Arizona State 57.85 10
27.21 57.85
6 Kittrell, Josh SR SMU 57.88 9
27.63 57.88
Consolation Final
7 Draganja, Duje SO California 56.38 7
26.25 56.38
8 Brown, Mike FR Minnesota 57.69 5
27.51 57.69
9 Salyards, Kyle JR Georgia 57.98 4
27.25 57.98
10 Nylin, Per FR SMU 58.09 3
27.58 58.09
11 Warren, Mac FR Florida 59.05 2
27.81 59.05
12 Martins, Leonardo FR Arizona State 59.39 1
28.03 59.39

Event 9 Men 800 Yard Freestyle Relay
===============================================================================
Meet: * 6:36.24 01/18/2002University of California, California-
J Bruckart, M Ohlin, B Flores, M Macedo
Pool: ! 6:34.65 1980 Texas
NCAA Qual.: & 6:26.62
School Finals Points
===============================================================================
1 University of Florida 6:35.01* 24
1) Jayme, Carlos JR 2) Lochte, Ryan FR
3) Wiebeck, Kris SO 4) Sioui, Adam SO
23.88 49.85 1:15.54 1:41.10 2:03.47 2:28.50 2:53.22 3:18.16
3:40.73 4:05.62 4:30.92 4:56.57 5:19.11 5:44.07 6:09.73 6:35.01
2 University of California 6:36.88 20
1) Molina, Miguel FR 2) Dorr, John SO
3) Bruckart, Joe SR 4) Thiele, Jens FR
24.00 49.82 1:14.17 1:39.33 2:02.47 2:27.55 2:53.19 3:18.78
3:41.71 4:06.54 4:32.02 4:57.70 5:20.19 5:45.54 6:11.17 6:36.88
3 University of Minnesota 6:42.24 18
1) Mortimer, Justin JR 2) Taylor, Matt SR
3) Smolinski, Todd SR 4) Silkaitis, Terry SO
23.92 49.58 1:15.63 1:41.36 2:04.44 2:30.20 2:56.08 3:21.37
3:44.83 4:10.63 4:36.35 5:03.04 5:25.63 5:50.65 6:16.39 6:42.24
4 Arizona State University 6:47.37 16
1) Brunelli, Nick JR 2) Kolozar, David FR
3) Hussein, Ahmed JR 4) Harcsas, Christian SR
23.22 48.35 1:14.16 1:39.39 2:02.90 2:28.72 2:55.24 3:21.11
3:44.53 4:10.83 4:37.84 5:04.54 5:29.35 5:55.71 6:22.14 6:47.37
5 Southern Methodist University 6:47.67 14
1) White, J.D. FR 2) Postma, Ferdi SO
3) Rodriguez, Jacob JR 4) Pineyro, Marcus JR
23.44 49.18 1:15.34 1:42.22 2:05.14 2:31.27 2:57.71 3:23.53
3:47.04 4:12.99 4:39.39 5:05.98 5:29.70 5:55.48 6:21.54 6:47.67
6 University of Georgia 6:50.22 12
1) Margalis, Robert SO 2) Brado, Matt SR
3) Owen, Matthew FR 4) Mahaney, Andrew JR
23.58 49.73 1:15.59 1:41.14 2:05.09 2:31.64 2:57.96 3:24.08
3:47.42 4:13.66 4:40.34 5:06.84 5:30.49 5:56.87 6:23.55 6:50.22

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