CAL VS. USC
- Results
- Friday, January 27th
- Hosted by Cal
- 25 yards
- Dual meet format
The Cal women swam to a 165-135 victory over the USC Trojans at home on Friday. In one of the top swims of the day, the Bears opened the meet with a blistering 200 medley relay. Amy Bilquist (back, 24.72), Abbey Weitzeil (breast, 27.35), Noemie Thomas (fly, 23.18) and Farida Osman (free, 21.58) combined for a 1:36.83. With that, they took down the Trojans by over 2 seconds.
Following their relay performances, 3 of the women also won individual events. Weitzeil powered to a 22.27 victory in the 50 free, with Osman coming in just behind at 22.41 for 2nd. Bilquist and Thomas picked up victories in their specialty 100s. Bilquist led the 100 back with a 52.25, while Thomas registered a 52.35 to take 1st place in the 100 fly.
Sophomore Kathleen Baker set a pool record en route to the Bears’ victory. Her winning time of 1:53.66 in the 200 back surpassed the former Pool Record of 1:53.94 done by Elizabeth Pelton. In addition to her record-setting 200 back, Baker was the victor in the 200 IM, posting a 1:57.13.
USC freshman Louise Hansson continues to shine for the Trojans. In the 200 free, she held off Cal’s Weitzeil, getting her hand on the wall 1st with a 1:44.86 to Weitzeil’s 1:45.01. Both swimmers returned to battle it out in the 100 free, with Hansson once again touching out Weitzeil, 48.77 to 48.88
Press Release – Cal
BERKELEY – Sophomore Kathleen Baker set a pool record in the 200-yard backstroke and Cal won nine events as the Golden Bears pulled away in the second half of the meet to defeat USC, 165-135, Friday at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
Cal held just a two-point lead at the midway point and the Trojans edged ahead after the 200 breaststroke. But the Bears claimed the last four swimming races and finished 2-3 in 1-meter diving to open up the 30-point final margin.
“I really thought we rose to the occasion,” head coach Teri McKeever said. “Some of the girls probably surprised themselves with their swims, which is great. I thought we were consistent and held together well during the meet. We talked about that and about needing to turn around tomorrow and be just as sharp. That’s what we’re going to need at Pac-12’s and NCAA’s.”
Baker, who captured a silver medal in the 100-meter back at the 2016 Olympics, entered the day as the national leader in the 200-yard back. She came through in record fashion, touching the wall in 1:53.66 to break the pool and Cal dual-meet mark of 1:53.94 set by Elizabeth Pelton three years ago. Baker also won the 200 individual medley in 1:57.13 and took second in the 100 back.
Freshman Abbey Weitzeil, also a medalist at the Olympics last summer, won her specialty, the 50 free, in 22.27, with senior Farida Osman right behind in 22.41. Weitzeil was second in the 200 free, but her time of 1:45.01 was a season-best for the Bears.
Sophomore Katie McLaughlin captured the 500 free in 4:47.50 and was the runner-up in the 200 fly. Her time of 1:55.62 moves her up to 11th in the country in the event.
In the 1000 free, freshman Chenoa Devine set a personal best and posted the No. 10 all-time mark at Cal with her first-place finish in 9:52.51. She was also second to McLaughlin in the 500 free.
Other winners for the Bears on the day were Amy Bilquist in the 100 back (52.25) and Noemie Thomas in the 100 fly (52.35). Both are the national leaders and undefeated in their respective events in dual meets this season.
In addition, Cal prevailed in both relays. Bilquist, Weitzeil, Thomas and Osman won the opening 200 medley relay in 1:36.83, while Maddie Murphy, Bilquist, Kristen Vredeveld and Osman closed out the afternoon by taking the 400 free relay in 3:17.35.
The Bears return to action Saturday when they host UCLA at noon at Spieker Aquatics Complex. Admission is free.
Press Release – USC
Sophomore Riley Scott and freshman Louise Hansson won two races apiece among seven Trojan event wins, but it wasn’t enough as No. 2 California handed No. 4 USC its first loss of the season, 165-135, Friday (Jan. 27) in Berkeley.
USC, which had been riding a two-meet win streak over the Golden Bears, fell to 6-1 overall, 5-1 in the Pac-12 while Cal improved to 6-1. 5-0.
The Bears opened the meet with a win in the 200y medley relay in 1:36.83, USC taking second as sophomore Hanni Leach, Scott, Hansson and senior Anika Apostalon touched in 1:39.07.
Sophomore Elizabeth Stinson led three Trojans in the 1000y free, finishing second in a season-best 9:56.86. Junior Allie Wooden also posted a season-best en route to third (9:59.83) while freshman Becca Mann was fourth (10:01.49).
Hansson won her first race by taking the 200y free in 1:44.86. The freshman is ranked fifth in the country in the race and beat Cal freshman Abbey Weitzeil to the wall (1:45.01). Freshman Tatum Wade was third (1:47.95).
Cal swept the top two spots in the 100y back while USC junior Hannah Weiss took third (53.74) and Leach finished fourth (54.36).
Sophomore Riley Scott led a pair of two straight wins by touching first in the 100y breast in 1:00.88 with senior Kelsey Kafka third (1:02.61), sophomore Kirsten Vose fourth (1:02.83) and senior Riley Hayward fifth (1:03.20).
Sophomore Maddie Wright followed with a win in the 200y fly in 1:55.16, 0.61 off her season best and 0.46 ahead of Cal’s Katie McLaughlin. Freshman Catherine Sanchez was fourth (1:58.93). Apostalon then took third in the 50y free with a 22.77 to break up Cal’s top four finishers headed into the diving break.
Sophomore Maddie Witt won the 3-meter with 319.05 with freshman Naomi Gowlett second (315.90) and freshman Carly Souza fourth (286.50).
Hansson turned in a huge win coming out of the break with a 48.77 in the 100y free to edge Weitzeil again, the Bear freshman touching in 48.88. Apostalon took third again in 49.34 while freshman Stanzi Moseley touched fifth (50.32). In the 200y back, Weiss (1:58.47) and Leach (1:59.49) took third and fourth, as they did in the 100y back.
Scott repeated as a winner by claiming the 200y breast in dominating fashion, winning in 2:10.37, almost four seconds ahead of Cal’s second-place finisher. Kafka was third (2:17.25) and Hayward fourth (2:17.27).
Wade led USC’s racers in the 500y free with a third in 4:51.89. Wooden was fifth (4:56.59), Stinson sixth (4:58.26).
Cal took the top three spots in a tight 100y fly won by Noelle Thomas’ 52.35. Hansson was fourth in 53.47, 0.26 back of second, while Sanchez was fifth (54.13).
Gowlett led USC divers to another win, taking first on 1-meter with 277.35, edging Cal’s Hayden Tavoda by three points. Souza was fourth (257.33) with Witt fifth (242.40).
USC closed the meet with a second in the 400y free relay with Apostalon, Moseley, Wade and Vose going 3:22.01.
The Trojans will square off against top-ranked Stanford on Saturday at noon in a meet televised lived by Pac-12 Networks.
Are sprint freestyles also typically good at the 50 yard breast? Seems like impressive versatility!
Jessica hardy comes to mind
This sort of versatility seems to be becoming more and more common. Anecdotally, I can think of a lot of sprint freestylers in my personal swimming journey that have swum the 50 breaststroke on the medley relay.
was any of this suited?
Nope, in regular practice suit.
That medley relay is going to be hard to beat.
wow, some fast times
Go Bears
Yes, go Golden Bears! W00T!