Arizona Overtakes Cal for First Time in 14 Years

TUCSON, Arizona, January 6. THE fourth-ranked California men's swimming and diving team slipped in their opening Pac-10 meet of the season, falling to No. 5 Arizona, 124.00-118.00, in Tucson, Ariz., on Friday. This was the Bears first loss to the Wildcats in 14 years.

The Wildcats started out earlier, edging Cal's team of David Russell, Richard Hunter, Jernej Godec and Nathan Adrian in the 400 meter medley relay. Arizona won the event with their time of 3:50.50, as Cal was clocked just short at 3:50.63. Michigan finished in third with their time of 3:53.97.

Arizona and Michigan landed in the top flight in the 800 freestyle. However, Aaron Casey was timed at 8:43.55 and Daniel Lysaught was clocked at 8:50.26.

Dominik Meichtry won the 200 free, with his time of 1:53.82. Louis Vayo finished fifth in the event after being clocked at 1:56.11.

The Bears also dominated the top five of the 50 free, with Jernej Godec winning the race with his time of 23.62 and William Copeland finishing third (23.78). Joe Whittington ended in fifth (24.33).

Mark Eckert finished the 200 IM in seventh with his time of 2:13.40. In the 200 butterfly, Patrick O'Neil (2:09.59) and Matt Scanlan (2:10.28) finished fourth and fifth respectively. Dominic Cathey was clocked at 2:15.72 in the race.

In his first Pac-10 meet, Nathan Adrian held off three Wildcats to claim individual honors in the 100 free with his time of 51.45. Copeland finished fifth after being clocked at 53.52.

Russell finished second in the 200 backstroke with his time of 2:08.25 and Casey (2:08.60) and Guy Barnea (2:09.20) rounded out the top five, in fourth and fifth.

After winning the 200 free, Meichtry finished third in the 400 free with his time of 4:05.09. Vayo finished fifth (4:10.44).

In the 200 breaststroke, Richard Hunter finished fourth with his time of 2:28.81. Graham Lentz finished eighth (2:35.7) and Troy Nissen claimed ninth (2:37.02).

The Wildcats also won the 400 freestyle relay, posting the time of 3:25.88, as Cal's team of Adrian, Copeland, Godec and Meichtry finished second with their time of 3:27.63.

On the diving side, the Bears were victorious, with Sam Helvie winning both the one-meter (358.10, season-best) and the three-meter (375.00, season-best). Javier Rivas finished third on the one-meter with his mark of 295.85 and fifth on the three-meter, 310.95. Mark Wes finished fourth on the three-meter (312.70) and fifth on the one-meter (291.20).

NOTE: all events were long course.

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