No. 7 USC Women Upset No. 3 California

Southern Cal places first in the prelims of the 200 medley relay.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By Sarah Lloyd, Swimming World College Intern

The No. 7 USC Trojan women hosted the No. 3 California Golden Bears on Friday January 29 and came up with a victory in a meet that came down to the last relay. A host of freshmen from both sides played integral parts in keeping the meet close, including Trojan freshman Riley Scott and California freshman Amy Bilquist.

The meet started off with an exciting race for first in the 400 medley relay. The USC team of Hannah Weiss, Riley Scott, Kendyl Stewart, and Anika Apostalon took first with a time of 3:35.33, over two seconds ahead of the California team of Rachel Bootsma, Marina Garcia Urzainqui, Noemie Thomas, and Amy Bilquist (3:37.64). It was then a couple of Trojan freshmen who grabbed first and second in the 1000 free–Allie Wooden won with a 9:50.17 and was followed by Elizabeth Stinson‘s 9:51.53. California’s Bilquist struck back with a win in the 200 free (1:47.12), just a half second ahead of Stinson (1:47.81) who completed a tough back-to-back double.

California freshman Kathleen Baker kept the Golden Bear’s momentum going with a win in the 100 back (52.95). She was trailed by USC teammates Weiss (53.49) and Stewart (53.69). USC’s Scott then convincingly won the 100 breast (1:00.94) and was followed by fellow Trojan freshman Kristen Vose (1:02.08). California then struck back in the 200 fly when senior Kelly Naze won the event with a 1:56.23 and was closely followed by her sophomore teammate Thomas (1:56.58). The California junior Farida Osman then won the 50 free (22.51). USC’s Apostalon was second (22.76), while California’s Bilquist was third (22.78).

Apostalon and Osman then switched places in the 100 free with Apostalon’s 48.85 and Osman’s 49.74. Bilquist then added a second individual win to her day with a victory in the 200 back (1:55.86). She led a sweep of the event and was followed by the senior Liz Pelton (1:56.44) and Naze (1:56.97), who edged out USC’s freshman Hanni Leach by one one-hundredth of second. USC responded by sweeping the 200 breast–Scott was first (2:11.11), the freshman Vose grabbed second (2:14.43), and was followed by junior teammate Kelsey Kafka (2:16.05).

California’s Baker joined Bilquist as a multi-event winner when she took the 500 free in a 4:45.49, but USC grabbed second and third in the event with freshman Wooden (4:46.19) and junior Chelsea Chenault (4:46.23). Thomas won the 100 fly for the Golden Bears (52.25) and was followed by the Trojan Stewart (53.08) and California’s Osman (53.91). Scott won the 200 IM with her 1:59.11, followed closely by Naze (1:59.52). The final blow that solidified the Trojan’s victory came in the 200 free relay, where a team of Apostalon, Kaisa Wilk, Evan Swenson, and Vose touched with a 1:30.64, a second ahead of the Golden Bear team of Thomas, Bootsma, Rachael Acker, and Osman (1:31.71).

The 1-meter diving competition was won by USC freshman Madison Witt (269.03), while the 3-meter board was taken by California senior Sara-Lina Boushakra (286.35).

The final score was 153-147 in USC’s favor.

Full results: 2016 California vs. USC Women – Results

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Bill Bel

8 years ago

Apostalon could be a desk- breaker as far as USC moving into top three or four teams st NCAAs. Without Simone Manuel tite 50-100 frees are wide open — although Stanford’s Lea Neal’ll be tough — byt if Double A doesn’t let herself be affected by pressure she could bring home a couple o’ golds come the thurd weekend in March.