2017 Women’s Pac-12 Champs: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2017 WOMEN’S PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, February 22 – Saturday, February 25
• Federal Way, WA (Pacific Time Zone)
• Defending Champion: USC (results)
• Live Results (also on Meet Mobile)
• Live Video 
• Pac-12 Record Book
• Championship Central

400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 4:05.36
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 4:19.39
• Pac 12 Conference record: Katinka Hosszu USC 3:56.54 (2012)
• Pac 12 Meet record: Julia Smit STAN 3:58.24 (2010)

1. Katie Ledecky STAN 4:01.92
2. Allie Szekely STAN 4:02.70
3. Ella Eastin STAN 4:03.13
4. Leah Stevens STAN 4:09.21
5. Celina Li CAL 4:09.29
6. Hannah Cox ARIZ 4:10.11
7. Emma Schanz UCLA 4:11.75
8. Marlies Ross ASU 4:12.03

The 400 IM did not serve as one of Stanford‘s strongest suits whatsoever a couple of years ago, but that has been completely reversed with the talent brought in by Greg Meehan and his coaching staff. Katie Ledecky leads the way with a 4:01.92 this morning, followed closely by Allie Szekely (her best time by over two seconds) and 2016 NCAA champion Ella Eastin. Stanford sophomore Leah Stevens was 4th this morning, while Cal‘s Celina Li was the 5th and final person under the 4:10 mark.

100 YARD BUTTERFLY

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 51.49
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 54.49
• Pac 12 Conference record: Natalie Coughlin CAL 50.01 (2002)
• Pac 12 Meet record: Farida Osman CAL 50.53 (2016)

1. Janet Hu STAN 50.38
2. Noemie Thomas CAL 50.44
3. Louise Hansson USC 50.70
4. Farida Osman CAL 51.32
5. Lindsey Engel STAN 51.77
6. Madison Wright USC 52.19
7. Annie Ochitwa ARIZ 52.21
8. Maddie Murphy CAL 52.29

This event was absolutely explosive, with Stanford‘s Janet Hu and Cal‘s Noemie Thomas both getting under the meet record of 50.53. Third place Louise Hansson of USC was also under 51 seconds, while former meet record holder Farida Osman went only the 4th-fastest time this morning with a 51.32.

200 YARD FREESTYLE

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:43.63
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 1:47.99
• Pac 12 Conference record: Missy Franklin CAL 1:39.10 (2015)
• Pac 12 Meet record: Missy Franklin CAL 1:41.09 (2015)

1. Simone Manuel STAN 1:41.53
2. Katie Ledecky STAN 1:42.59
3. Lia Neal STAN 1:44.15
4. Katie McLaughlin CAL 1:44.42
5. Tatum Wade USC 1:44.81
6. Abbey Weitzeil CAL 1:44.85
7. Katie Drabot STAN 1:44.99
8. Stanzi Moseley USC 1:45.09

Right after the 100 fly, the PAC 12 delivered another incredibly packed event. Simone Manuel is sitting pretty at 1:41.53, significantly faster than the 1:43.17 that she went in prelims last year at this meet, for the top seed. Katie Ledecky, right after her 400 IM, posted a 1:42.59 this morning, with Lia Neal following up for third in 1:44.15.

This entire A heat tonight is comprised the big three (Stanford/USC/Cal), and it’s very young. Neal is the only upperclassman, a senior, with Manuel and McLaughlin being sophomores, and the rest are freshmen.

100 YARD BREASTSTROKE

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 59.04
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 1:02.49
• Pac 12 Conference record: Sarah Haase STAN 58.02 (2016)
• Pac 12 Meet record: Sarah Haase STAN 58.02 (2016)

1. Silja Kansakoski ASU 58.82
2. Riley Scott USC 59.26
3. Kirsten Vose USC 59.88
4. Kim Williams STAN 1:00.30
5. Marina Garcia CAL 1:00.46
6. Kelsey Kafka USC 1:00.62
7. Kennedy Lohman ARIZ 1:00.66
8. Heidi Poppe STAN 1:00.77

Arizona State freshman Silja Kansakoski came out of seemingly nowhere to bust the top time of the morning with a 58.82, the only swimmer under 59. USC Trojans Riley Scott (59.26) and Kirsten Vose (59.88) were her closest competitors, and the only other swimmers under 1:00. Stanford got two women into the A final here with Kim Williams and Heidi Poppe, and Cal had one with Marina Garcia at 1:00.46.

Kansakoski is a Finnish import who joined up with the Sun Devils in January– her addition is certainly a huge plus for Bob Bowman’s program.

100 YARD BACKSTROKE

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 51.45
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 55.09
• Pac 12 Conference record: Natalie Coughlin CAL 49.97 (2002)
• Pac 12 Meet record: Rachel Bootsma CAL 50.64 (2013)

1. Janet Hu STAN 50.29
2. Ally Howe STAN 50.47
3. Linnea Mack UCLA 50.76
4. Kathleen Baker CAL 50.80
5. Amy Bilquist CAL 51.71
6. Hannah Leach USC 52.03
7. Keaton Blovad CAL 52.67
8. Lindsey Engel STAN 52.78

The Pac 12 continues to blow this writer’s mind, and Janet Hu completed the 100 fly-100 back double with meet records in both events. Watch out tonight, Coughlin.

Ally Howe was also under the old 100 back meet record set by Rachel Bootsma in 2013, while UCLA’s Linnea Mack and Cal‘s Kathleen Baker were both under 51 seconds. Mack, for her part, has quietly been having the meet of her life, and this swim is just another huge new PB and school record for her.