2017 Women’s PAC-12s: USC Good, Cal Better, Stanford Best

2017 Women’s PAC-12 Championships:

The Stanford women’s team has finished in the runner-up position the last three years at the PAC-12 Championships, but managed to break through this past weekend to reclaim the top spot on the podium against a very deep conference. The title was Stanford’s 20th in its program’s history. The Cardinal won the first 8 events before USC’s Louise Hansson broke the streak in the 100 Fly. During the four-day meet, Stanford only lost four swimming events (see bolded events below). Including diving, Stanford won 15 of the 21 total events.

Stanford won all five relay titles, thanks in large part to sprinter Simone Manuel. The 400 Free Relay team, which Manuel led off, now holds the American and NCAA record in the event.Manuel also came away with three individual titles (50, 100, and 200 Free), which was the most of any athlete at the PAC-12 Champs. Her win in the 200 free came over Olympian teammate Katie Ledecky. Ledecky, who claimed the 400 IM and 500 Free in record-setting fashion, was named Swimmer of the Meet.

The event winners and final team standings are outlined below:

Event Winners:

200 Medley Relay (Stanford, 1:34.32)
800 Free Relay (Stanford, 6:49.42)
1 Meter Springboard (Kassidy Cook, Stanford, 3:38.35)
500 Free (Katie Ledecky, Stanford, 4:25.15)
200 IM (Ella Eastin, Stanford, 1:52.34)
50 Free (Simone Manuel, Stanford, 21.29)
200 Free Relay (Stanford, 1:26.44)
400 IM (Katie Ledecky, Stanford, 3:57.68)
100 Fly (Louise Hansson, USC, 50.39)
200 Free (Simone Manuel, Stanford, 1:40.37)
100 Breast (Silja Kansakoski, ASU, 58.44)
100 Back (Ally Howe, Stanford, 49.69)
3 Meter Springboard (Maria Polyakova, UCLA, 385.00)
400 Medley Relay (Stanford, 3:26.74)
1650 Free (Megan Byrnes, Stanford, 15:47.62)
200 Back (Kathleen Baker, Cal, 1:48.33)
100 Free (Simone Manuel, Stanford, 46.36)
200 Breast (Riley Scott, USC, 2:06.20)
200 Fly (Ella Eastin, Stanford, 1:51.85)
Platform Diving (Mara Aiacoboae, ASU, 292.80)
400 Free Relay (Stanford, 3:08.51)

Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 21                     
 
  1. Stanford University            1587.5   
  2. University of California, Berk   1392
  3. University of Southern Calif   1250.5   
  4. Arizona, University of         1075.5
  5. University of California - LA    1002   
  6. Arizona State University        709.5
  7. Utah, University of               484   
  8. Washington State University       334
  9. Oregon State University           237  

The PAC-12 teams will now look ahead to the NCAA Championships, which are set to take place March 15-18th in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Stanford Cardinal hold the NCAA record with eight national championships, although it has been nearly two decades since their last title.

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E Gamble
7 years ago

Are their guidelines in written form that they use to choose swimmer of the meet? If not they need to get some. The public shouldn’t have to wonder how they came to their conclusion. Simone scored more points, won more races, and even beat Katie in the 200 free. I can see where someone may question their decision. But, it appears that the most important thing is to break American and NCAA records. If this document exists, I would love to see it. ☺

Paul
7 years ago

To both: Ledecky broke 2 American Records and 1 NCAA record. Simone broke 0.

CraigH
Reply to  Paul
7 years ago

Yes but Katie almost blew a relay. Simone single handedly won a couple of relays, but she won all three of her events.

Ray woods
Reply to  CraigH
6 years ago

You don’t single handedly win a relay.

standard
7 years ago

Why was Ledecky chosen as swimmer of the meet over Manuel? Not disagreeing just wanting to know why…

Mike
Reply to  standard
7 years ago

Maybe American records in two individual events had something to do with it.

Kathy
Reply to  standard
7 years ago

Because Katinka wasn’t there.

Michael
7 years ago

Why wasn’t Manuel Swimmer of the Meet?

James
Reply to  Michael
7 years ago

Honestly I wouldn’t have been upset if Manuel won that title…it’s a solid argument that she was worth more – in terms of points scored – to her team. But Ledecky took on an incredibly hard double in the 400 IM/200 Free…and you just can’t argue with the American record times.