NCAA Division I Women’s Championships: California Tops 400 Medley Relay

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AUSTIN, Texas, March 17. THE California Golden Bears cleared the pool record, and nearly eclipsed the U.S. Open and NCAA record in the women's 400-yard medley relay at the NCAA Division I Women's Championships.

California started off with a monster 100 backstroke leadoff from Cindy Tran with a 51.59 – the 10th fastest 100 back of all time. Caitlin Leverenz (59.04) and Amanda Sims (50.91) turned in strong breaststroke and butterfly legs, before Liv Jensen left a closing field in the dust with an astonishing 46.99 anchor leg to clock a 3:28.53. The swim beat the pool record of 3:30.52 held by Texas, and gave California its second win all time in the event, and broke a three-year streak by Arizona. Previously, Lauren Rogers, Jessica Hardy, Dana Vollmer and Emily Silver won the event in 3:30.18 in 2007.

"That really was a special swim," Jensen said. "I was tired and had two events earlier this evening. But one of our captains sat us down and said, 'You know, we're all tired. But we all have to swim our best. That's what we have to give.' I just went for it. I think the outcome was awesome. That's really good momentum. We have a strong day tomorrow, and we're really looking forward to that."

USC's Presley Bard, Kasey Carlson, Lyndsay DePaul and Katinka Hosszu finished second in 3:29.82, while Arizona's Sarah Denninghoff, Ellyn Baumgardner, Dana Christ and Margo Geer touched second in 3:30.52. Tennessee (3:31.41), Wisconsin (3:31.73), Minnesota (3:32.67), Georgia (3:33.43) and Stanford (3:34.31) placed fourth through eighth.

Texas A&M's Tess Simpson, Breeja Larson, Kendra Chernoff and Liliana Ibanez won the B final heat with a 3:31.80. Texas' Lily Moldenhauer, Laura Sogar, Kelsey Amundsen and Karlee Bispo placed 10th overall in 3:32.81, while Auburn (3:33.92), Arizona State (3:35.15), North Carolina (3:35.25), Florida (3:35.61), Indiana (3:37.24) and Michigan (3:37.25) comprised the rest of the small final.

Georgia finished day one with a slight lead over Southern California, 129 to 122. Stanford stood third with 116 points, while California grabbed fourth with 115 points. Arizona rounded out the top five with 99 points. Auburn (80), Texas (68), Minnesota (67), Wisconsin (56) and Florida (53) completed the top 10 heading into day two.

Swimming World's NCAA Division I Women's Championships Notes Package Sponsored by NISCA

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