Stanford’s Simone Manuel Sets Pac-12 Record in 100 Free, California Defends Team Title at Pac-12 Championships

Photo Courtesy: Kayla Simon

FEDERAL WAY – Stanford freshman Simone Manuel set a Pac-12 and meet record in the women’s 100 free final, while the University of California successfully defended its team title Saturday night at the Pac-12 Conference Championships at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.

The Golden Bears scored 1,629.5 points to run away with the team title, their fourth overall and third in the last four years. Stanford finished second for the second straight year with 1,401 points, while Southern California repeated its third place showing from 2014 with 1,109 points.

Arizona (954.5), UCLA (951.5), Utah (652), Arizona State (610), Washington State (369.5) and Oregon State (286) rounded out the rest of the field.

Photo Courtesy: California Athletics

California’s Cierra Runge got the night started in record-breaking fashion, setting a new Pac-12 meet record in the women’s 1650 free with a 15:40.17. That lowered the 15:41.52 set by Southern California’s Haley Anderson back in 2012 and topped second place finisher Samantha Harrison of Oregon State (15:54.61) by nearly 15 seconds. UCLA’s Katy Campbell rounded out the top three in 16:00.34.

California kept the ball rolling in the 200 back final with a 1-2-3 sweep, led by sophomore Missy Franklin. Franklin stopped the clock at 1:49.94 to edge teammate Elizabeth Pelton, who finished in 1:50.27. Pelton led going into the final 50, but Franklin out-split her by more than half a second to pull out the win. Melanie Klaren came in third at 1:52.55.

Stanford’s Simone Manuel continued her incredible freshman campaign with another set of records in the 100 free. After lowering Missy Franklin’s meet record of 47.17 this morning with a 47.01, Manuel flew to a 46.70 in finals, taking down her own meet record and Natalie Coughlin’s 2002 Pac-12 record of 47.00 in the process. Manuel went out in 22.61 and came home in 24.09 tonight. She just missed the NCAA record by .09, as Auburn’s Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace swam a 46.61 in 2012. Manuel will have another shot at that record at NCAAs in a couple of weeks. Stanford teammate Lia Neal took second in 47.16, while California’s Farida Osman also cracked 48 with a 47.96 for third.

Southern California senior Andrea Kropp capped her Pac-12 career on a high note, winning the 200 breast in 2:08.51. Kropp took the lead at the halfway point and never looked back en route to the conference title. Stanford claimed second and third place honors, with Katie Olsen finishing in 2:09.36 and Sarah Haase coming in at 2:09.64.

Noemie Thomas of California earned her first Pac-12 victory as a freshman, clocking a 1:54.10 in the 200 fly final. UCLA’s Noelle Tarazona came in second at 1:55.15, moving up from her fifth place showing this morning. Jasmine Mau, another Cal freshman, rounded out the top three finishers in 1:55.53.

The women’s platform diving final featured an extremely tight battle for first, with three divers finishing within two and a half points of each other. Stanford’s Lilly Hinrichs led the way in 324.30, just over a point in front of UCLA’s Annika Lenz, who scored 323.15 points. Arizona State picked up their first top three finish of the night as Mara Aiacoboae claimed third in 322.00.

Stanford closed out the meet with a resounding win in the 400 free relay as Lia Neal, Janet Hu, Ally Howe and Simone Manuel put together a 3:10.69 to secure second place in the team standings and break California’s meet record of 3:11.05, set in 2009. Kaylin Bing, Camille Cheng, Missy Franklin and Farida Osman gave Cal a second place showing with their 3:12.10, while USC’s Katarzyna Wilk, Evan Swenson, Kendyl Stewart and Chelsea Chenault wrapped up third in 3:14.24.

2015 Pac-12 Women’s Championships, Day Four – Results

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Stephen Broomes

9 years ago

She whooped me! That’s amazing! Scared to see what she will do. I won’t swear to it but gotta believe that that would have been top 3 at CCS championships back in the early 80’s……for the guys!! I might have to get back in the pool……not!