Pac 12 Conference Women’s Swimming Champs, Day One Finals: Cal Opens With Pair of Relay Wins

Pac 12 Conference Women’s Swimming Champs, Day One Finals: Cal Opens With Pair of Relay Wins

Day One Finals, Houston Texas

The Pac 12 Swimming Championships opened at a different site than is common, as the meet was forced to relocate to Houston due to the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the unavailability of the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Washington. Nonetheless, the athletes brought speed to the pool, which is an expected theme from the Pac-12. Arizona, on the strength of diving, sits first in the team standings, which should start to take form during the second day of action.

Here is a look at how the first two events – both relays – unfolded on Night One.

Team Scores (Includes Diving)

Arizona – 179

Cal – 168

Utah – 162

Stanford – 157

UCLA – 142

USC – 117

Washington State – 94

800 Freestyle Relay

Fueled by Robin Neumann’s strong leadoff leg, California won the first event of the competition by clocking 6:55.99 in the 800 freestyle relay. That performance was more than two seconds clear of the 6:58.60 of Stanford, with Arizona placing third in 7:05.32.

Neumann put the Bears in front from the start, as she went 1:43.19 for her 200 yards. Neumann was backed up by Ayla Spitz in 1:44.27 while Rachel Klinker went 1:44.56. Alicia Wilson handled the anchor duties for Cal and dipped under 1:44 with a split of 1:43.97. Cal was able to secure its first win of the conference meet without the services of standout Isabel Ivey, who presumably will see duty in each of the other four relays on the schedule.

Stanford earned runnerup honors following the efforts of Allie Raab, Brooke Forde, Morgan Tankersley and Lauren Pitzer. Raab opened in 1:45.26 and was followed by Forde going 1:43.27, a positive sign for the remainder of her meet. Tankersley was timed in 1:43.61 while Pitzer went 1:46.46.

 Event 2  Women 800 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 6:45.91  3/15/2017 Stanford University
                          S. Manuel, L. Neal, E. Eastin, K. Ledecky
       PAC-12: M 6:45.91  2017      Stanford University
                          S. Manuel, L. Neal, E. Eastin, K. Ledecky
 PAC-12 Champ: P 6:49.42  2017      Stanford University
                          L. Neal, K. Drabot, E. Eastin, L. Ledecky
                 7:00.86  A Standard
                 7:05.88  B Standard
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 CAL  'A'                      6:56.68    6:55.99 A       64  
     1) Neumann, Robin SR             2) r:0.25 Spitz, Ayla SO        
     3) r:0.21 Klinker, Rachel SO     4) r:0.44 Wilson, Alicia JR     
             24.44        50.85 (50.85)
      1:17.11 (1:17.11)   1:43.19 (1:43.19)
        2:07.07 (23.88)     2:33.47 (50.28)
      3:00.32 (1:17.13)   3:27.46 (1:44.27)
        3:51.21 (23.75)     4:17.73 (50.27)
      4:44.67 (1:17.21)   5:12.02 (1:44.56)
        5:36.11 (24.09)     6:02.04 (50.02)
      6:28.63 (1:16.61)   6:55.99 (1:43.97)
  2 STAN  'A'                     6:56.88    6:58.60 A       56  
     1) Raab, Allie JR                2) r:+0.0 Forde, Brooke SR      
     3) r:0.11 Tankersley, Morgan JR  4) Pitzer, Lauren SR            
             24.71        51.34 (51.34)
      1:18.34 (1:18.34)   1:45.26 (1:45.26)
        2:09.47 (24.21)     2:35.68 (50.42)
      3:02.19 (1:16.93)   3:28.53 (1:43.27)
        3:52.36 (23.83)     4:18.63 (50.10)
      4:45.27 (1:16.74)   5:12.14 (1:43.61)
        5:36.17 (24.03)     6:02.74 (50.60)
      6:30.48 (1:18.34)   6:58.60 (1:46.46)
  3 ARIZ  'A'                     7:03.46    7:05.32 B       54  
     1) Mortensen, Amalie FR          2) r:0.38 Batchelor, Molly FR   
     3) r:0.15 Heimstead, Julia FR    4) r:0.40 Treydte, Casslyn SO   
             24.92        51.49 (51.49)
      1:18.29 (1:18.29)   1:45.03 (1:45.03)
        2:09.02 (23.99)     2:35.97 (50.94)
      3:03.52 (1:18.49)   3:31.48 (1:46.45)
        3:55.49 (24.01)     4:22.28 (50.80)
      4:49.99 (1:18.51)   5:17.76 (1:46.28)
        5:42.38 (24.62)     6:09.42 (51.66)
      6:37.31 (1:19.55)   7:05.32 (1:47.56)
  4 UCLA  'A'                     7:04.67    7:07.32         52  
     1) Smith, Delaney JR             2) r:0.32 Kirschke, Ella JR     
     3) r:0.14 Rhee, Rachel SO        4) r:0.26 Schaffer, Brooke SO   
             24.97        52.22 (52.22)
      1:19.43 (1:19.43)   1:46.90 (1:46.90)
        2:10.72 (23.82)     2:37.41 (50.51)
      3:05.07 (1:18.17)   3:32.66 (1:45.76)
        3:56.85 (24.19)     4:24.42 (51.76)
      4:52.51 (1:19.85)   5:20.26 (1:47.60)
        5:44.39 (24.13)     6:11.26 (51.00)
      6:39.09 (1:18.83)   7:07.32 (1:47.06)
  5 USC  'A'                      7:17.02    7:09.97         50  
     1) Delgado, Anicka FR            2) r:0.55 Odgers, Isabelle JR   
     3) r:0.29 Kinsey, Hallie JR      4) r:0.28 Turner, Makenna JR    
             23.92        50.48 (50.48)
      1:18.52 (1:18.52)   1:47.24 (1:47.24)
                            2:38.67 (51.43)
      3:06.13 (1:18.89)   3:33.71 (1:46.47)
        3:57.94 (24.23)     4:24.85 (51.14)
      4:52.87 (1:19.16)   5:20.88 (1:47.17)
        5:45.84 (24.96)     6:13.34 (52.46)
      6:41.32 (1:20.44)   7:09.97 (1:49.09)
  6 UTAH  'A'                     7:22.38    7:19.77         48  
     1) Reimer, Audrey JR             2) r:0.29 Watson, Alyssa FR     
     3) r:0.48 Miller, Kayla SO       4) r:0.35 Niemczak, Zofie JR    
             25.97        53.60 (53.60)
      1:21.95 (1:21.95)   1:50.31 (1:50.31)
        2:15.40 (25.09)     2:43.28 (52.97)
      3:11.59 (1:21.28)   3:39.80 (1:49.49)
        4:05.38 (25.58)     4:33.00 (53.20)
      5:01.78 (1:21.98)   5:30.22 (1:50.42)
        5:55.08 (24.86)     6:22.19 (51.97)
      6:50.99 (1:20.77)   7:19.77 (1:49.55)
  7 WSU  'A'                      7:33.75    7:26.10         46  
     1) McCoy, Taylor SR              2) r:+0.41 Van Rooyen, Michee SO
     3) r:+0.39 Ward, Emily FR        4) Liebzeit, Josie FR           
             25.01        52.92 (52.92)
      1:21.67 (1:21.67)   1:50.35 (1:50.35)
        2:14.63 (24.28)     2:42.30 (51.95)
      3:11.04 (1:20.69)   3:39.99 (1:49.64)
        4:04.99 (25.00)     4:33.07 (53.08)
      5:02.40 (1:22.41)   5:32.42 (1:52.43)
        5:58.06 (25.64)     6:26.94 (54.52)
      6:56.62 (1:24.20)   7:26.10 (1:53.68)
 -- CAL  'B'                      7:33.77   x7:09.46        
     1) Ivey, Isabel JR               2) r:0.19 Dimeco, Sarah SO      
     3) r:0.23 Allen, Mara FR         4) r:0.38 Bailey, Elizabeth SR  
             23.22        48.63 (48.63)
      1:15.29 (1:15.29)   1:43.11 (1:43.11)
        2:07.05 (23.94)     2:33.76 (50.65)
      3:01.45 (1:18.34)   3:29.22 (1:46.11)
        3:53.32 (24.10)     4:21.26 (52.04)
      4:50.02 (1:20.80)   5:18.74 (1:49.52)
        5:43.60 (24.86)     6:11.46 (52.72)
      6:40.37 (1:21.63)   7:09.46 (1:50.72)

400 Medley Relay

Cal completed its sweep of the Day One relays as it followed a victory in the 800 freestyle relay with a convincing triumph in the 400 medley relay. The Bears delivered a time of 3:26.70 to easily better the 3:30.08 of Stanford, which was also second in the 800 free relay. UCLA was third in 3:33.86.

Cal was paced on the backstroke leg by Isabelle Stadden, who turned in an opening-leg split of 50.86 and set the stage for Ema Rajic to cover the breaststroke leg in 57.68. Isabel Ivey was superb on the butterfly leg, as she split 50.44 and allowed Emily Gantriis to bring the relay home in 47.72.

Allie Raab had the strongest leg for Stanford, thanks to a 58.02 split on breaststroke.

 Event 3  Women 400 Yard Medley Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 3:25.09  3/15/2017 Stanford University
                          A. Howe, K. Williams, J. Hu, S. Manuel
       PAC-12: M 3:25.09  2017      Stanford University
                          A. Howe, K. Williams, J. Hu, S. Manuel
 PAC-12 Champ: P 3:25.15  2018      Stanford University
                          A. Howe, K. Williams, J. Hu, S. Manuel
                 3:31.66  A Standard
                 3:33.78  B Standard
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 CAL  'A'                      3:29.22    3:26.70 A       64  
     1) Stadden, Isabelle FR          2) r:0.21 Rajic, Ema JR         
     3) r:0.14 Ivey, Isabel JR        4) r:0.25 Gantriis, Emily FR    
             24.52        50.86 (50.86)
        1:17.43 (26.57)     1:48.54 (57.68)
        2:11.43 (22.89)     2:38.98 (50.44)
        3:01.26 (22.28)     3:26.70 (47.72)
  2 STAN  'A'                     3:31.58    3:30.08 A       56  
     1) Rudolph, Janelle FR           2) r:0.13 Raab, Allie JR        
     3) r:0.45 Wheal, Emma SO         4) r:0.32 Green, Lauren SR      
             25.20        51.97 (51.97)
        1:18.84 (26.87)     1:49.99 (58.02)
        2:13.47 (23.48)     2:41.29 (51.30)
        3:04.53 (23.24)     3:30.08 (48.79)
  3 UCLA  'A'                     3:33.81    3:33.86         54  
     1) Kosturos, Sophia SO           2) r:0.18 Grover, Claire JR     
     3) r:0.34 Baron, Sam FR          4) r:0.08 Kirschke, Ella JR     
             25.78        53.84 (53.84)
        1:21.01 (27.17)     1:53.75 (59.91)
        2:17.58 (23.83)     2:45.46 (51.71)
        3:08.49 (23.03)     3:33.86 (48.40)
  4 ARIZ  'A'                     3:34.40    3:34.83         52  
     1) Bernal, Aria JR               2) Neser, Jade SO               
     3) r:0.22 Heimstead, Julia FR    4) Filipek, Kayla SR            
             25.62        53.18 (53.18)
        1:20.90 (27.72)   1:53.22 (1:00.04)
        2:17.29 (24.07)     2:46.01 (52.79)
        3:08.63 (22.62)     3:34.83 (48.82)
  5 UTAH  'A'                     3:37.00    3:37.39         50  
     1) Reimer, Audrey JR             2) r:0.26 Pittard, Charity SO   
     3) r:0.16 Lawless, Emma JR       4) r:0.41 Woznick, Madeline SO  
             26.14        53.89 (53.89)
        1:22.53 (28.64)   1:55.12 (1:01.23)
        2:20.15 (25.03)     2:48.56 (53.44)
        3:11.68 (23.12)     3:37.39 (48.83)
  6 WSU  'A'                      3:46.04    3:41.60         48  
     1) McCoy, Taylor SR              2) Duarte, Mackenzie SR         
     3) r:0.44 Takashige, Kaya FR     4) r:0.40 Larson, Chloe SR      
             26.77        54.75 (54.75)
        1:23.73 (28.98)   1:57.05 (1:02.30)
        2:22.55 (25.50)     2:52.64 (55.59)
        3:15.95 (23.31)     3:41.60 (48.96)
 -- CAL  'B'                      3:46.05   x3:32.61 B      
     1) Laughlin, Tea FR              2) r:0.19 Harrison, Ali SR      
     3) r:0.28 Garcia, Elise JR       4) r:0.19 Neumann, Robin SR     
             25.53        52.55 (52.55)
        1:20.11 (27.56)     1:52.18 (59.63)
        2:15.96 (23.78)     2:44.45 (52.27)
        3:07.27 (22.82)     3:32.61 (48.16)
 -- STAN  'B'                     3:46.07   x3:33.27 B      
     1) Crisera, Alex SO              2) r:0.19 Zhao, Grace SR        
     3) r:0.17 Fackenthal, Amalie JR  4) r:0.12 Volpenhein, Ashley SR 
             25.65        52.86 (52.86)
        1:20.68 (27.82)     1:52.24 (59.38)
        2:16.13 (23.89)     2:44.65 (52.41)
        3:00.00 (15.35)     3:33.27 (48.62)
 -- UCLA  'B'                     3:46.09   x3:37.73        
     1) Howard, Abriana JR            2) r:0.32 Lo, Emily JR          
     3) r:0.12 Dang, Gabby SO         4) r:0.35 Wright, Madeleine FR  
             26.18        54.79 (54.79)
        1:22.78 (27.99)   1:55.94 (1:01.15)
        2:19.90 (23.96)     2:47.59 (51.65)
        3:11.18 (23.59)     3:37.73 (50.14)
 -- ARIZ  'B'                     3:46.06   x3:40.00        
     1) Merckx, Axana SO              2) Farrow, Hannah SO            
     3) r:0.38 Burt, Maddy FR         4) r:0.03 Connor, Alayna JR     
             26.59        54.77 (54.77)
        1:22.96 (28.19)   1:56.05 (1:01.28)
        2:20.92 (24.87)     2:50.40 (54.35)
        3:13.21 (22.81)     3:40.00 (49.60)
 -- UTAH  'B'                          NT   x3:40.75        
     1) Broome, Emma SR               2) r:0.12 Edwards, Sadie FR     
     3) r:0.53 Lehman, Harper FR      4) r:+0.0 Cathcart, Reagan FR   
             25.92        53.21 (53.21)
        1:21.85 (28.64)   1:55.67 (1:02.46)
        2:21.21 (25.54)     2:50.34 (54.67)
        3:13.88 (23.54)     3:40.75 (50.41)
 -- ARIZ  'C'                     3:46.08   x3:40.99        
     1) Lindsay, Tia FR               2) r:0.19 Hage, Kati SR         
     3) r:0.52 Anderson, Grace FR     4) r:0.24 Stone, Jamie SR       
             26.72        55.23 (55.23)
        1:23.71 (28.48)   1:56.88 (1:01.65)
        2:22.06 (25.18)     2:51.44 (54.56)
        3:14.51 (23.07)     3:40.99 (49.55)
 -- WSU  'B'                      3:55.67   x3:43.83        
     1) Poloni, Makayla FR            2) Vartiainen, Alexandra FR     
     3) Swain, Kiana FR               4) Grotte, Hailey FR            
             27.56        55.60 (55.60)
        1:23.91 (28.31)   1:56.99 (1:01.39)
        2:22.53 (25.54)     2:52.46 (55.47)
        3:16.22 (23.76)     3:43.83 (51.37)
 -- UTAH  'C'                          NT         DQ        
      Early take-off swimmer #3
     1) Leary, Kate FR                2) r:0.21 Gassaway, Mckenna JR  
     3) r:-0.08 Alicea-Jorgensylor FR 4) r:0.16 Daniell, Cameron FR   
             27.13        56.66 (56.66)
        1:26.09 (29.43)   2:01.11 (1:04.45)
        2:26.33 (25.22)     2:57.08 (55.97)
        3:22.18 (25.10)          DQ (52.26)
 -- USC  'A'                      3:39.14         DQ        
      Early take-off swimmer #4
     1) Janvier, Aela SO              2) r:0.29 Dobler, Kaitlyn FR    
     3) r:0.34 Schlicht, Jemma SR     4) r:-0.02 Ciesla, Marta SR     
             25.99        53.50 (53.50)
        1:20.14 (26.64)     1:51.03 (57.53)
        2:14.62 (23.59)     2:42.46 (51.43)
        3:05.23 (22.77)          DQ (48.72)

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