Pac-12 Weekly Analysis: Ledecky, Stanford Records Steal Show Again

Stanford's Katie Ledecky. Photo Courtesy: David Bernal Photography

By Dan D’Addona.

When Texas knocked off Cal on Friday, it upped the ante for Saturday’s meet against Stanford.

But instead of being known for the insanely huge back-to-back road meets for the Longhorns, Stanford stole the show.

The show wasn’t stolen because Stanford won. After all, Stanford is ranked No. 1 and expected to win, even against a powerhouse like No. 4 Texas.

No, the show was stolen because of the record-setting performances put in by the Stanford swimmers.

The Cardinal broke home pool records, while Texas also broke one.

The assault on the record books was again led by Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky, who broke the pool and NCAA record in the 1,000 freestyle, stunningly finishing in 9 minutes, 10.49 seconds.

She wasn’t alone. Simone Manuel and Janet Hu broke pool records.

It is easy to brush aside this record assault that Ledecky is putting out there because we are so used to it from her. But short course and long course are very different, and while it isn’t a surprise to anyone that she is dominating in the collegiate pools, it is still a remarkable feat. Getting bored or used to all of Ledecky’s records are testaments to just how dominating she is.

And she will continue to steal the show.

Here is a closer look at the Stanford-Texas and Cal-Texas meets:

No. 1 Stanford tops No. 4 Texas

Texas continued its California invasion by taking on No. 1 Stanford in front of a crowd of 1,800-plus.

The huge crowd got its money’s worth as seven pool records fell and the top-ranked Cardinal held off the No. 4 Longhorns 161-137.

Stanford freshman Katie Ledecky had two pool records, while juniors Simone Manuel and Janet Hu each tallied a record, and Texas’ Madisyn Cox broke the pool record in the 200 individual medley (1:55.87). Stanford started and finished the meet with pool records in the 400-yard medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.

Ally Howe, Kim Williams, Hu and Manuel opened the meet with the fastest 400 medley relay. The quartet slightly trailed the Longhorns after the first three legs, but Manuel pushed Stanford to finish in 3:33.24. Howe, Hu and Manuel joined Lia Neal for the record-setting 200 free relay (1:29.83) to cap the meet.

Ledecky finished the 1,000 free in 9:10.49. That broke Olympian Janet Evans‘s 26-year-old mark more than 20 seconds (9:30.69).

Hu was the next to break a pool record. In the 100 backstroke, she touched the pad at 51.95 to best the standard set by Cal’s Amy Bilquist in 2015.

Manuel, who also won the 200 free (1:44.25), broke the 50 free pool record that she set as a freshman. She improved her time by a quarter of a second to 22.07.

Ledecky then broke her own record in the 500 free. She was three seconds faster than her swim in the home opener with an Avery-best of 4:33.94.

Cox finished behind Manuel in the 200 free (1:45.05), ahead of Neal.

Texas sophomore Olivia Anderson won the 100 breaststroke (1:01.46).

Remedy Rule put away the victory in 1:55.52 while Stanford sophomore Ella Eastin, the reigning NCAA runner-up, took second at 1:56.91. Ledecky took third at 1:57.23.

In the 200 breaststroke. Texas senior Tasija Karosas edged teammate Claire Adams for the win at 1:55.02 while Adams posted a strong mid-season time of 1:55.19 for second.

Cox finished off her second individual win of the day and again defeated Eastin, the reigning NCAA champion in the 200 IM. Cox took the victory at 1:55.87 while Stanford’s Allie Szekely took second at 1:58.69.

Texas edges Cal in epic dual

The Texas invasion of California began with the Longhorns facing Cal in a battle of national powers.

It was a meet that came down to the final relay and No. 4 Texas hung on to edge No. 9 Cal 152-148 on Friday.

The meet came down to the final event – the 400-yard free relay – with Cal needing to sweep the top two spots to force a tie. The foursome of Amy Bilquist, Maddie Murphy, Abbey Weitzeil and Farida Osman won in 3:15.82, which established a pool and Cal dual meet record with the nation’s fastest time of the year. Texas, though, took second with the Bears’ other relay in third. As a result, the Longhorns emerged with the four-point victory.

Texas sophomore Joanna Evans, a Rio Olympian from The Bahamas, gave UT its second straight win with a victory in the 1,000 freestyle at 9:50.33. Cox returned for the 200 freestyle and defeated U.S. Olympians Weitzeil and Kathleen Baker in 1:45.10.

Bilquist claimed both backstroke events, taking the 100 back in 51.93 and the 200 back in 1:53.24. Her 100 time ranks second nationally, while her 200 time is first.

In addition to Bilquist, Weitzeil also set a pool and Cal dual meet record with the fastest time in the NCAA, winning the 50 free in 22.09. The old pool mark was 22.18 by Liv Jensen in 2009.

Noemie Thomas also put her name atop the national time sheet with her time of 51.89 in a victory in the 100 butterfly.

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Madi Decker

7 years ago

Claudia Decker