2016 Women’s Pac-12 Championships: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

PAC-12 – WOMEN

• Wednesday, February 24 – Saturday, February 27
• Federal Way, WA (Pacific Time Zone)
• Defending Champion: California (results)
• Live results
• Live Video (if available)
• Championship Central
• Fan Guide

It’s day 3 at the women’s Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way and the Stanford women have jumped into the lead with 557 points. USC trails just behind with 512, and will try to set themselves up to outscore the Cardinal tonight. The next 3 teams, Cal (477.5), UCLA (431), and Arizona (413) are separated by just 64 points. That gives us plenty of tight team battles to keep an eye on this morning.

WOMEN’S 400 IM:

Stanford’s Ella Eastin cruised her way to the top seed in the women’s 400 IM prelims by almost 5 seconds. Eastin, the winner of the 200 IM last night, touched the wall in 4:03.82 this morning. The next two seeds behind her were also under 4:10. Cal teammates Celina Li (4:08.53) and Kelly Naze (4:08.57) were 2nd and 3rd.

Stanford got 2 more into the championship final, with Leah Stevens touching 4th overall at 4:11.37 and Kim Williams (4:14.26) making it in at 8th. UCLA’s Arlyn Upshaw (4:12.64), ASU’s Marlies Ross (4:12.87), and Utah’s Jordan Anderson (4:13.85) got each of their respective teams some representation in tonight’s final.

1. Ella Eastin, Stanford- 4:03.82
2. Celina Li, Cal- 4:08.53
3. Kelly Naze, Cal- 4:08.57
4. Leah Stevens, Stanford- 4:11.37
5. Arlyn Upshaw, UCLA- 4:12.64
6. Marlies Ross, ASU- 4:12.87
7. Jordan Anderson, Utah- 4:13.85
8. Kim Williams, Stanford- 4:14.26

WOMEN’S 100 FLY:

Cal’s Noemie Thomas led the field in the 100 fly prelims, touching with a quick 51.15 to take top seed headed into finals. She was just a fingernail ahead of her teammate Farida Osman (51.18), who’s been having an incredible meet so far.

USC’s Kendyl Stewart took 3rd seed with a 51.96. Her teammate, Lucy Worrall, got a 2nd Trojan into the final with her 52.57 for 7th. Arizona also got 2 into the final, with Annie Ochitwa tying Cal’s Rachel Bootsma at 52.09 for 4th and Mackenzie Rumrill (52.41) taking 6th.

Stanford’s Lindsey Engel put the Cardinal into the mix, qualifying 8th to round out the championship finalists in 52.72.

Stanford’s Janet Hu swam a 51.27 this morning, but that won’t count for scoring as it was done as an exhibition swim.

1. Noemie Thomas, Cal- 51.15
2. Farida Osman, Cal- 51.18
3. Kendyl Stewart, USC- 51.96
4. Annie Ochitwa, Arizona- 52.09
5. Rachel Bootsma, Cal- 52.09
6. Mackenzie Rumrill, Arizona- 52.41
7. Lucy Worrall, USC- 52.57
8. Lindsey Engel, Stanford- 52.72

WOMEN’S 200 FREE:

Lia Neal turned in the top time in the 200 free this morning, clocking a 1:43.98 to earn lane 4 in tonight’s final. USC’s Kirsten Vose (1:44.54) and Cal’s Liz Pelton (1:44.83) turned in a pair of 1:44s to take the 2nd and 3rd seeds, respectively.

Stanford’s Nicole Stafford took the 4th seed in 1:45.22, just ahead of USC’s Chelsea Chenault (1:45.37), who won the 500 last night. Just .02 behind Chenault was Arizona’s Taylor Schick, who touched in 1:45.39 for 6th overall. USC’s Henriette Stenkvist (1:45.62) and Cal’s Rachel Acker (1:45.84) took the 7th and 8th spots for tonight’s final.

1. Lia Neal, Stanford- 1:43.98
2. Kirsten Vose, USC- 1:44.54
3. Liz Pelton, Cal- 1:44.83
4. Nicole Stafford, Stanford- 1:45.22
5. Chelsea Chenault, USC- 1:45.37
6. Taylor Schick, Arizona- 1:45.39
7. Henriette Stenkvist, USC- 1:45.62
8. Rachael Acker, Cal- 1:45.84

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST:

Stanford’s Sarah Haase was well ahead of the field in the women’s 100 breast this morning, claiming the top seed in 58.25. Joining her under 1:00 was USC freshman Riley Scott, who dropped a 59.44 for 2nd seed.

Arizona’s Emma Schoettmer was the 3rd fastest out of prelims, touching in 1:00.35. Next to qualify was Cal’s Marina Garcia in 4th with a 1:00.90. Behind Garcia, was a pair of USC teammates. Riley Hayward was 5th in 1:01.44, just ahead of Kelsey Kafka (1:01.66).

Arizona got another one in with Alexandra Martelle, who touched at 1:01.70 for 7th. UCLA freshman Emma Schanz was a touch behind in 1:01.84 to grab the 8th seed.

1. Sarah Haase, Stanford- 58.25
2. Riley Scott, USC- 59.44
3. Emma Schoettmer, Arizona- 1:00.35
4. Marina Garcia, Cal- 1:00.90
5. Riley Hayward, USC- 1:01.44
6. Kelsey Kafka, USC- 1:01.66
7. Alexandra Martelle, Arizona- 1:01.70
8. Emma Schanz, UCLA- 1:01.84

WOMEN’S 100 BACK:

Cal freshman Amy Bilquist certainly turned some heads this morning, dropping close to 2 second off her best time in the 100 back to take the top seed in 50.50. With a time like that, Bilquist is a serious threat for an NCAA title in this event. That’s a new Pac-12 meet record for Bilquist and a new 17-18 NAG record.

Stanford’s Janet Hu (51.18) and Ally Howe (51.19) clocked a pair of impressive times in prelims to take the 2nd and 3rd seeds and will look to challenge tonight.

Also in the mix will be Bilquist’s teammates Rachel Bootsma (51.21) and Kathleen Baker (51.47) who were 4th and 5th respectively this morning. Qualifying behind them were UCLA’s Linnea Mack (52.14) and Madison White (52.67) in 6th and 8th. Hannah Weiss sits between them with a 52.51 for 7th seed.

1. Amy Bilquist, Cal- 50.50
2. Janet Hu, Stanford- 51.18
3. Ally Howe, STanford- 51.19
4. Rachel Bootsma, Cal- 51.21
5. Kathleen Baker, Cal- 51.47
6. Linnea Mack, UCLA- 52.14
7. Hannah Weiss, USC- 52.51
8. Madison White, UCLA- 52.67