Cal Takes Dallas Morning News Classic with Record Points

DALLAS, January 18 — Break up Da Bears!

Number 3-ranked Cal's Golden Bears, with Alex Lim winning a demanding second day 200 back-fly double and sophomore Duje Draganja clocking a swift 43.77 100 free, defended its crown at the 21st annual Dallas Morning News Swimming & Diving Classic tonight at Perkins Natatorium.

Cal won the Morning News meet for the second- consecutive year and set a Classic scoring record by finishing with 352 points. The total broke the old record of 344 by Coach John Trembley's Tennessee Vols from two years ago.

The total was the highest-ever by the winning team and — what's even more impressive — is that it was done without the services of all-world sprinter (and double-defending world champion) Anthony Ervin. Ervin just rejoined the team last weekend after taking the fall semester off, and Cal coach Nort Thornton felt he wasn't quite ready for this level of competition.

The record-shattering weekend at the Classic included six meet standards and five pool marks.

Cal freshman Michael Cavic, double individual gold-medalist in the 50 free-100 fly, with the latter's 46.94 sestting a meet-record, was named the Classic's Outstanding Swimmer. Arizona State's Joona Puhakka, winner on both boards, was voted Outstanding Diver.

"I was pleased with the way we swam," Thornton said.
"All our guys put forth a great effort, especially Alex [Lim], Duje [Draganja] and our 'rookie' Michael Cavic. I thought Joe Bruckhart gave us some great relay legs tonight and setting a record for most points without Anthony…I never would have believed it coming in."

Any thoughts about chances for winning NCAAs?

"I got out of the prediction business a long time ago, after I predicted Dewey over Truman."

* * * * *
Coach Greg Troy's No. 6 Florida Gators finished second with 300 points, while No. 7 Minnesota took the bronze with a total of 285 points. SMU finished sixth with 234 points over the two day event.

Florida got an excellent showing from freshman Ryan Lochte, who splashed to a runner-up finish Friday evening in the 400 IM to last season's NCAA runner-up, Robert Margalist of Georgia by just a couple of tenths. Tonight Lochte was solid gold, setting a meet-record (1:47.88) en route to No. 1 in the 200 IM.

The time, Lochte's pr, toppled the old standard of 1:47.99, set by another Gator a decade ago. That swimmer was of course Greg Burgess, and all Burgess did later that season was win NCAAs in a then American/national collegiate record 1:43.52, still the Florida record (SECs too) and history's No. 2 performance all-time.

Texas' Nate Dusing holds the current American/NCAA mark with his 1:42.85 from the Championships a couple of years ago. Stanford junior Markus Rogan (1:44.03) is defending NCAA champ; and teammate Dan Trupin won last season's Pac-10s with a conference record 1:43.83. Trupin's time ranks him fourth and third on the all-time performances – performers lists while Rogan is ninth and sixth, respectively.

Another Gator who performed in exemplary fashion this weekend was sophomore Adam Sioul, a member of Canada's national team and defending NCAA 200 free champ. He won his specialty Friday.

* * * * *

Cal started up where it left off Friday, winning the night's opening race, the 400 free relay (2:57.64). Cavic led off in 44.31, followed by Bruckhart's 44.70, Double D's 44.06 [fastest] and freshman Jens Thiele's 44.19 anchor. Cal's time is more than a second off its meet record 2:56.09 from last year but, of course, that team had Ervin on it. Big difference.

Minnesota's Justin Mortimer followed with a first in the 500 free in 4:23.83, putting the Gophers of Coach Dennis Dale — double-defending Big 10 champs — in a battle that would last most of the night with Florida for second.

Cal junior Lim followed with another dominating performance, winning the first of his two crowns. Lim took the 200 back in 1:43.93, NCAA auto qualifier. The time just missed former Texas All-America Neil Walker's meet record 1:43.88 from the '97 Classic. Walker holds the American/NCAA record in the 100 back with his 44.92 from the '97 Championships.

Lim's time is also slightly off his seasonal pr 1:43.30 from the Longhorn Invitational at Texas early last month. That swim ranks him No. 2 nationally to Longhorn Aaron Peirsol's 1:41.34. Lim's pr is the Cal record, 1:42.85 from last season's Pac-10s.

Lim later won the 200 butterfly (1:45.96) to score his third individual gold of the meet. He also won the 100 back in a meet record 46.99.

After Minnesota's Jeff Hackler won the 200 breast (2:00.49), Arizona State's Puhakka won his second diving title, taking home the three-meter crown with a 376.80 score.

Golden Bear sophomore Draganja, runner-up to Ervin at NCAAs last season in the 100 free, added to the Cal lead with his century win (43.77), slightly off his meet-record 43.21 from last year. He now moves into second nationally behind Cavic's list-leading 43.21 from the Longhorn Invite.

Lim followed with his 200 fly victory. Florida's Lochte put a little cushion between his Gators and Minnesota by setting a pool- and meet-record in the 200 IM with his 1:47.81.

Cal broke the scoring record in the night's final event, winning the 200 free relay in 1:20.96 — a second and-a-half off its No. 2 1:19.60 at Texas. Arizona State is the national-leader with its 1:19.50. Again, however, it shoud be remembered that Ervin was not on any of these relay teams and his presence is worth at least a couple of seconds per race — if not more!

When the splashing concluded, Cal, Cavic and Puhakka were the evening's biggest winners.

Will history repeat itself the final weekend of March in Austin at NCAAs?

Stay tuned.

— Bill Bell

Dallas Morning News Swimming & Diving Classic
Perkins Natatorium, Dallas, TX., Jan. 18, 2003
Final Team Rankings

Place School Points
1 University of California CAL 352
2 University of Florida UF 300
3 University of Minnesota UM 285
4 Arizona State University ASU 254
5 University of Georgia UG 240
6 Southern Methodist University SMU 234

Results

Event 10 Men 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
===============================================================================
Meet: * 2:56.09 01/19/2002University of California, California-
D Draganja, A Ervin, M Macedo, B Flores
Pool: ! 2:56.92 2002 University of California
NCAA Qual.: & 2:55.37
School Finals Points
===============================================================================
1 University of California 2:57.64 24
1) Cavic, Michael FR 2) Draganja, Duje SO
3) Bruckart, Joe SR 4) Thiele, Jens FR
21.16 44.31 1:05.47 1:29.01 1:50.21 2:13.45 2:34.27 2:57.64
2 University of Minnesota 3:01.75 20
1) Taylor, Matt SR 2) Silkaitis, Terry SO
3) Ong, Allen SR 4) Smolinski, Todd SR
22.13 46.02 1:07.09 1:30.74 1:52.25 2:15.66 2:37.38 3:01.75
3 University of Florida 3:01.76 18
1) Mangabeira, Gabriel SO 2) Jayme, Carlos JR
3) Sioui, Adam SO 4) Wiebeck, Kris SO
21.77 45.17 1:06.63 1:30.06 1:51.86 2:16.03 2:37.97 3:01.76
4 Arizona State University 3:03.05 16
1) Brunelli, Nick JR 2) Zaabadich, Bobby SR
3) Wallace, Wiley SR 4) Hussein, Ahmed JR
21.50 44.69 1:06.25 1:30.38 1:51.91 2:17.02 2:39.25 3:03.05
5 Southern Methodist University 3:03.43 14
1) Nylin, Per FR 2) White, J.D. FR
3) Newton, Jono JR 4) Rodriguez, Jacob JR
21.33 46.35 1:08.33 1:32.51 1:53.58 2:16.94 2:39.41 3:03.43
6 University of Georgia 3:05.58 12
1) Margalis, Robert SO 2) Gardner, Scott SO
3) Brado, Matt SR 4) Lam, Randy JR
22.52 46.15 1:07.95 1:32.61 1:54.49 2:18.75 2:40.70 3:05.58

Event 11 Men 500 Yard Freestyle
===============================================================================
Meet: * 4:21.64 1988 Sean Killion, California
Pool: ! 4:21.64 1988 Sean Killion, California
NCAA Qual.: & 4:20.75
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Mortimer, Justin JR Minnesota 4:23.83 16
24.97 51.34 1:17.41 1:43.80 2:09.75 2:36.71 3:03.95 3:31.26
3:58.21 4:23.83
2 Lochte, Ryan FR Florida 4:23.90 13
25.21 52.57 1:19.70 1:46.85 2:13.85 2:40.59 3:06.81 3:33.20
3:58.86 4:23.90
3 Dorr, John SO California 4:29.32 12
25.09 52.46 1:19.72 1:46.99 2:14.16 2:41.26 3:08.53 3:36.06
4:03.22 4:29.32
4 Owen, Matthew FR Georgia 4:29.34 11
25.29 52.82 1:19.96 1:47.00 2:14.21 2:41.38 3:08.66 3:36.39
4:03.59 4:29.34
5 Postma, Ferdi SO SMU 4:30.14 10
25.12 52.35 1:19.80 1:47.43 2:14.83 2:42.30 3:09.83 3:37.19
4:03.99 4:30.14
6 Kolozar, David FR Arizona State 4:33.80 9
25.05 52.16 1:19.69 1:47.19 2:14.63 2:42.45 3:10.35 3:38.43
4:06.40 4:33.80
Consolation Final
7 Molina, Miguel FR California 4:30.06 7
25.43 52.58 1:20.23 1:48.56 2:16.24 2:43.75 3:11.08 3:38.29
4:04.46 4:30.06
8 Mahaney, Andrew JR Georgia 4:30.08 5
25.22 52.52 1:20.14 1:47.69 2:15.20 2:42.83 3:10.58 3:38.20
4:05.00 4:30.08
9 Warren, Mac FR Florida 4:35.16 4
25.24 52.60 1:20.41 1:48.43 2:16.64 2:44.99 3:13.20 3:41.37
4:09.25 4:35.16
10 Taylor, Matt SR Minnesota 4:35.31 3
25.45 53.56 1:21.72 1:49.82 2:18.07 2:46.15 3:14.32 3:42.40
4:09.64 4:35.31
11 Pineyro, Marcus JR SMU 4:37.43 2
25.66 53.45 1:21.32 1:49.45 2:17.61 2:45.64 3:13.54 3:41.80
4:09.80 4:37.43
12 Wallace, Wiley SR Arizona State 5:29.43 1
27.88 58.75 1:31.40 2:05.23 2:39.53 3:14.12 3:48.63 4:22.46
4:56.76 5:29.43

Event 12 Men 200 Yard Backstroke
===============================================================================
Meet: * 1:43.88 1997 Neil Walker, Texas
Pool: ! 1:43.88 1997 Neil Walker, Texas
NCAA Qual.: & 1:44.38
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Lim, Alex JR California 1:43.93& 16
23.76 49.87 1:17.31 1:43.93
2 Harcsas, Christian SR Arizona State 1:46.29 13
25.57 52.50 1:19.50 1:46.29
3 Kellam, Chris JR Florida 1:46.79 12
25.90 53.18 1:20.45 1:46.79
4 Urreta, Diego JR Minnesota 1:48.27 11
25.57 53.17 1:20.72 1:48.27
5 Underhill, Colin JR Georgia 1:51.12 10
26.14 54.14 1:22.33 1:51.12
6 Rodriguez, Jacob JR SMU 1:51.92 9
26.52 54.50 1:23.16 1:51.92
Consolation Final
7 Thiele, Jens FR California 1:47.79 7
25.57 53.36 1:21.17 1:47.79
8 Smolinski, Todd SR Minnesota 1:48.00 5
25.45 52.63 1:20.07 1:48.00
9 Wiebeck, Kris SO Florida 1:48.45 4
26.39 53.86 1:21.16 1:48.45
10 Hussein, Ahmed JR Arizona State 1:51.10 3
25.28 53.37 1:22.63 1:51.10
11 Lam, Randy JR Georgia 1:54.17 2
27.45 56.37 1:25.81 1:54.17
12 White, J.D. FR SMU 1:54.55 1
27.18 55.70 1:25.17 1:54.55

Event 13 Men 200 Yard Breaststroke
===============================================================================
Meet: * 1:58.22 1990 Mike Barrowman, Michigan
Pool: ! 1:58.22 1990 Mike Barrowman, Michigan
NCAA Qual.: & 1:58.28
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Hackler, Jeff SR Minnesota 2:00.49 16
27.87 58.90 1:29.42 2:00.49
2 Chadsey, Ian SR Florida 2:01.47 13
28.21 59.73 1:30.49 2:01.47
3 Martins, Leonardo FR Arizona State 2:03.09 12
28.66 59.68 1:30.91 2:03.09
4 Margalis, Robert SO Georgia 2:03.25 11
28.42 59.79 1:31.40 2:03.25
5 Kittrell, Josh SR SMU 2:03.41 10
28.44 59.43 1:31.22 2:03.41
— Byma, Quentin SR California DQ
27.43 58.68 1:30.96 DQ
Consolation Final
7 Molina, Miguel FR California 2:02.49 7
28.46 59.46 1:31.00 2:02.49
8 Salyards, Kyle JR Georgia 2:03.90 5
28.74 1:00.88 1:32.60 2:03.90
9 Brown, Mike FR Minnesota 2:04.33 4
28.39 1:00.35 1:31.68 2:04.33
10 Warren, Mac FR Florida 2:08.46 3
29.93 1:02.64 1:35.90 2:08.46
11 MacDonald, Russell SO Arizona State 2:09.93 2
28.58 1:00.88 1:34.50 2:09.93
12 Hampson, Ric SO SMU 2:21.92 1
31.76 1:07.88 1:45.28 2:21.92

Event 14 Men 3 Meter Diving
===============================================================================
Meet: * 427.65 1990 Mark Bradshaw, U.S. National
Pool: ! 427.65 1990 Mark Bradshaw, U.S. National
NCAA Qual.: & 310.00
Name Year School Finals Points
===============================================================================
1 Puhakka, Joona FR Arizona State 376.80& 16
2 Dumais, Brice SR SMU 350.70& 13
3 Wilcox, Zach SO Florida 347.55& 12
4 Avery, Todd SO Georgia 335.90& 11
5 Herdt, Ben SR Minnesota 310.60& 10
6 Bartolotta, Nick SR California 296.90 9

Event 15 Men 100 Yard Freestyle
===============================================================================
Meet: * 43.21 01/19/2002Duje Draganja, California-
Pool: ! 43.21 2002 Duje Draganja, California
NCAA Qual.: & 43.64
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Draganja, Duje SO California 43.77 16
20.90 43.77
2 Brunelli, Nick JR Arizona State 44.51 13
21.52 44.51
3 Jayme, Carlos JR Florida 44.88 12
21.38 44.88
4 Silkaitis, Terry SO Minnesota 45.17 11
21.94 45.17
5 Newton, Jono JR SMU 45.57 10
22.03 45.57
6 Brado, Matt SR Georgia 46.63 9
22.55 46.63
Consolation Final
7 Ong, Allen SR Minnesota 45.30 7
21.91 45.30
8 Thiele, Jens FR California 45.40 5
22.46 45.40
9 Nylin, Per FR SMU 45.81 4
21.68 45.81
10 Zaabadich, Bobby SR Arizona State 45.98 3
22.09 45.98
11 Wiebeck, Kris SO Florida 47.01 2
22.77 47.01
12 Gardner, Scott SO Georgia 47.38 1
22.80 47.38

Event 16 Men 200 Yard Butterfly
===============================================================================
Meet: * 1:44.77 1999 Stephen Perry, FSU
Pool: ! 1:44.77 1999 Stephen Perry, FSU
NCAA Qual.: & 1:45.46
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Lim, Alex JR California 1:45.96 16
23.94 50.87 1:18.33 1:45.96
2 Lam, Randy JR Georgia 1:48.23 13
24.28 51.75 1:19.56 1:48.23
3 Kolozar, David FR Arizona State 1:48.35 12
24.43 51.38 1:19.44 1:48.35
4 Hampson, Ric SO SMU 1:49.69 11
24.37 52.02 1:21.01 1:49.69
5 Taylor, Matt SR Minnesota 1:51.38 10
25.26 54.03 1:22.84 1:51.38
6 Sioui, Adam SO Florida 1:52.20 9
24.97 53.66 1:22.74 1:52.20
Consolation Final
7 Cavic, Michael FR California 1:47.68 7
23.60 51.17 1:18.81 1:47.68
8 Mahaney, Andrew JR Georgia 1:49.13 5
25.31 53.30 1:21.30 1:49.13
9 Mangabeira, Gabrie SO Florida 1:49.28 4
24.71 52.86 1:20.67 1:49.28
10 Mortimer, Justin JR Minnesota 1:54.20 3
26.16 55.22 1:25.00 1:54.20
11 Pineyro, Marcus JR SMU 1:55.81 2
25.76 54.68 1:25.01 1:55.81
12 MacDonald, Russell SO Arizona State 2:04.14 1
27.05 57.34 1:30.56 2:04.14

Event 17 Men 200 Yard IM
===============================================================================
Meet: * 1:47.99 1993 Greg Burgess, Florida
Pool: ! 1:47.99 1993 Greg Burgess, Florida
NCAA Qual.: & 1:47.16
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
Championship Final
1 Lochte, Ryan FR Florida 1:47.81* 16
24.00 52.13 1:23.23 1:47.81
2 Bruckart, Joe SR California 1:50.12 13
24.41 52.10 1:24.40 1:50.12
3 Urreta, Diego JR Minnesota 1:50.92 12
25.49 52.28 1:24.95 1:50.92
4 Margalis, Robert SO Georgia 1:51.80 11
24.36 53.26 1:25.64 1:51.80
5 Harcsas, Christian SR Arizona State 1:53.06 10
25.16 53.14 1:26.69 1:53.06
6 Rodriguez, Jacob JR SMU 1:55.38 9
24.54 52.80 1:28.07 1:55.38
Consolation Final
7 Dorr, John SO California 1:51.18 7
24.75 53.50 1:25.18 1:51.18
8 Postma, Ferdi SO SMU 1:52.83 5
23.67 51.95 1:25.57 1:52.83
9 Kellam, Chris JR Florida 1:52.90 4
24.65 52.75 1:27.08 1:52.90
10 Hackler, Jeff SR Minnesota 1:55.72 3
25.40 56.80 1:27.85 1:55.72
11 Martins, Leonardo FR Arizona State 1:55.99 2
25.64 56.52 1:28.39 1:55.99
12 Salyards, Kyle JR Georgia 1:56.93 1
25.98 55.84 1:28.89 1:56.93

Event 18 Men 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
===============================================================================
Meet: * 1:19.86 01/19/2002University of California, California-
D Draganja, A Ervin, M Macedo, M Ohlin
Pool: ! 1:19.86 2002 University of California, California
NCAA Qual.: & 1:18.77
School Finals Points
===============================================================================
1 University of California 1:20.96 24
1) Cavic, Michael FR 2) Draganja, Duje SO
3) Byma, Quentin SR 4) Bruckart, Joe SR
19.99 39.72 1:00.36 1:20.96
2 University of Florida 1:21.30 20
1) Jayme, Carlos JR 2) Mangabeira, Gabriel SO
3) Lochte, Ryan FR 4) Sioui, Adam SO
20.61 40.73 1:01.11 1:21.30
3 Arizona State University 1:22.26 18
1) Brunelli, Nick JR 2) Zaabadich, Bobby SR
3) Wallace, Wiley SR 4) Hussein, Ahmed JR
20.47 40.84 1:01.19 1:22.26
4 Southern Methodist University 1:22.54 16
1) Nylin, Per FR 2) White, J.D. FR
3) Newton, Jono JR 4) Postma, Ferdi SO
20.53 41.93 1:02.96 1:22.54
5 University of Minnesota 1:23.07 14
1) Silkaitis, Terry SO 2) Ong, Allen SR
3) Smolinski, Todd SR 4) Mortimer, Justin JR
20.85 40.94 1:01.91 1:23.07
6 University of Georgia 1:27.11 12
1) Gardner, Scott SO 2) Brado, Matt SR
3) Owen, Matthew FR 4) Mahaney, Andrew JR
21.57 43.02 1:05.11 1:27.11

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