2018 Women’s Pac-12 Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2018 WOMEN’S PAC-12 SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

We’re back with day 3 finals of the 2018 Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way, Washington. Swimmers are set to compete for individual titles in the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, and 100 back. We’ll also see finals of the 400 medley relay and women’s 3-meter diving. Look out for Stanford’s Katie Ledecky, who will battle American Record holder Ella Eastin shortly before racing All-American teammate Simone Manuel in the 200 free. USC’s Louise Hansson (100 fly) and ASU’s Silja Kansakoski (100 breast) are the top seeds in their respective events and will battle for their teams’ first swimming title of the meet. After a very fast morning swim, Stanford’s Janet Hu will challenge Cal’s reigning NCAA champ Kathleen Baker for the 100 back gold.

WOMEN’S 400 IM:

  • Pac-12 Meet Record: 3:57.68, Katie Ledecky (STAN), 2017
  • NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 4:04.70
  • 2017 NCAA Invite Time: 4:10.86
  1. GOLD: Katie Ledecky, Stanford, 3:56.53
  2. SILVER: Ella Eastin, Stanford, 3:57.32
  3. BRONZE: Brooke Forde, Stanford, 4:01.04

Katie Ledecky roared to a new American Record tonight, also taking down Katinka Hosszu’s NCAA Record. Ledecky showed improvement through her fly and back legs, knocking a second from her lifetime best (and former American Record prior to Eastin breaking it at 2017 NCAAs). Ella Eastin was also under the former American Record, taking silver. Stanford freshman Brooke Forde completed the Cardinal podium sweep. Cal freshman Sarah Darcel made a big drop, touchign in 4:03.00 for 4th place.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY:

  • Pac-12 Meet Record: 50.38, Janet Hu (STAN), 2017
  • NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 51.19
  • 2017 NCAA Invite Time: 52.52
  1. GOLD: Louise Hansson, USC, 50.17
  2. SILVER: Ally Howe, Stanford, 51.03
  3. BRONZE: Noemie Thomas, Cal, 51.11

Louise Hansson successfully defended her Pac-12 title, giving the Trojans their first event win of the meet. Hansson popped a 22.99 up front, establishing her lead early on, and finished nearly a second ahead of the field. Stanford’s Ally Howe came from behind to out-touch Cal’s Noemie Thomas for the silver. Howe’s swim tonight was 2 seconds faster than her former best time in the USA Swimming database before today. Cal’s Katie McLaughlin was also a nail short of bronze, but ran out of room as she tried to run them down in a personal best 51.17.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE:

  • Pac-12 Meet Record: 1:40.37, Simone Manuel (STAN), 2017
  • NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 1:43.30
  • 2017 NCAA Invite Time: 1:45.44
  1. GOLD: Katie Ledecky, Stanford, 1:40.71
  2. SILVER: Simone Manuel, Stanford, 1:40.78
  3. BRONZE: Robin Neumann, Cal, 1:43.64

Shortly after her record-breaking performance in the 400 IM, Katie Ledecky was back to race defending champion Simone Manuel in this event. Manuel had the early speed, flipping in 48.80 to Ledecky’s 49.71, but Ledecky closed nearly a second faster with a 25.20 on the final 50 to Manuel’s 26.10. She hit the wall for another gold by 7 hundredths. Cal freshman Robin Neumann used her closing speed to top Stanford’s Katie Drabot (1:43.92) for the bronze.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST:

  • Pac-12 Meet Record: 58.02, Sarah Haase (STAN), 2016
  • NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 58.85
  • 2017 NCAA Invite Time: 1:00.34
  1. GOLD: Riley Scott, USC, 58.81
  2. SILVER: Silja Kansakoski, ASU, 59.04
  3. BRONZE: Kim Williams, Stanford, 59.07

USC’s Riley Scott put the Trojans on top again, splitting 27.66 en route to her 58.81 victory. Arizona State’s Silja Kansakoski and Stanford’s Kim Williams were neck-and-neck the whole way through, with Kansakoski getting her hands to the wall a few hundredths ahead for the silver. USC freshman Maggie Aroesty (59.35) and Cal freshman Ali Harrison (59.52) were each in the 59-range. That’s good news for the Bears, as the breaststroke leg has been their main concern for the medley relays, and Harrison is showing big improvement.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK:

  • Pac-12 Meet Record: 49.69, Ally Howe (STAN), 2017
  • NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 51.16
  • 2017 NCAA Invite Time: 52.65
  1. GOLD: Janet Hu, Stanford, 49.93
  2. SILVER: Kathleen Baker, Cal, 50.13
  3. BRONZE: Amy Bilquist, Cal, 51.28

Janet Hu is now the 4th fastest 100 backstroker in history. Kathleen Baker took it out in 24.12 for the early lead, while Hu flipped in 24.42, but Hu had the closing speed as she broke 50 seconds for the first time in her career. Cal’s Amy Bilquist rounded out the podium, while teammate Keaton Blovad (51.83) broke 52 seconds for the first time to take 4th.

WOMEN’S 3-METER DIVING:

  • Pac-12 Meet Record: 361.55, Cassidy Krug (Stanford), 2007
  1. GOLD: Eloise Belanger, UCLA, 369.75
  2. SILVER: Ashley McCool, ASU, 367.95
  3. BRONZE: Kassidy Cook, Stanford, 343.95

UCLA’s Eloise Belanger and ASU freshman Ashley McCool were each above the 11-year-old Meet Record. As expected, the Sun Devils got a big boost from diving with McCool, Frida Kaellgren (4th), and Mara Aiacoboae (8th), giving them a 63.5 point edge over Arizona in the team battle for 3rd.

WOMEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY:

  • Pac-12 Meet Record: 3:26.25, Stanford, 2016
  • NCAA ‘A’ Standard: 3:32.67
  1. GOLD: Stanford, 3:25.15
  2. SILVER: Cal, 3:25.50
  3. BRONZE: Arizona, 3:32.85

Stanford and Cal were both well under the former American and NCAA Record as they battled for the win. Ally Howe (50.21) only slightly edged out Kathleen Baker (50.24) on the backstroke leg, but Kim Williams opened up the lead for the Cardinal with her 58.61 breast split. Cal tried to battle back as Noemie Thomas split a 50.20 fly to Janet Hu‘s 50.38. It came down to Simone Manuel and Abbey Weitzeil on the free leg, with Manuel splitting a 45.95 to Weitzeil’s 46.00.

TEAM SCORES THROUGH DAY 3:

  1. Stanford University            1230.5   2. University of California- Berk   1028
  3. Arizona State University          667   4. University of Arizona           605.5
  5. University of Southern Calif    547.5   6. University of California - LA   526.5
  7. Utah, University of               322   8. Washington State University       230
  9. Oregon State University           150

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ALEXANDER POP-OFF
6 years ago

I keep saying it but I think Natalie Coughlin often gets the short stick in greatest yards swimmer conversations. HOWEVER, who else has done the equivalent of 50.01 100 fly and 40 minutes later, 49.97 100 back? I’ll wait. Not even Lochte, Ledecky or even Dressel has done that. Those times could continue to win NCAA’s for over a decade. Mind blowing.

Pvdh
Reply to  ALEXANDER POP-OFF
6 years ago

I mean…Ledecky just did 3:56 and 1.40, Dressel did 40.0 and 40.4 100 frees back

ALEXANDER POP-OFF
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

Not back to back American Records.

Pvdh
Reply to  ALEXANDER POP-OFF
6 years ago

Put 100 fly and 100 free on the same day and I’m sure he could do it

ALEXANDER POP-OFF
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

No, not same day. But 40 MINUTES APART. And also win by 2-3 seconds.

Sparkle
Reply to  ALEXANDER POP-OFF
6 years ago

I agree, Coughlin is the GOAT when it comes to SCY. Over the course of her career, she at some point held American records in the 50/100/200 free, 100/200 back, and 100/200 fly. Not sure if she ever had the 200 im record, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she did

bobo gigi
6 years ago

Hu beats Baker in the bathtub.
Hu finishes 2.5/3 seconds behind Baker in the big pool.

bobo gigi
6 years ago

If someone has race videos, please post them. I’d like to watch that 400 IM and the medley relay too. Thanks.

bobo gigi
6 years ago

Cool to see KL have fun in the decathlon of swimming. Easier in the bathtub but it’s great to see that she persists with success.
Cool to see Simone Manuel slowly back to her best after her injury. Huge battle with KL in the 200 free. Simone takes advantage of her speed and KL of her endurance.
Cool to see Katie McLaughlin back to her best after 2 tough years. Best time in the 100 fly and especially a great last 25 which shows that she has recovered her endurance.
Ali Harrison’s level of performance on breaststroke is a great news for Cal medley relays.
And what an amazing close race in the medley relay. Wow!

ALEXANDER POP-OFF
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

Re Katie McLaughlin— her 200 free should be faster though. To me she is a 1:42:0 flat start level talent. Seems she may be done with 400 free though.

john m razi
6 years ago

Wow..wow…wow…!!!! Some guts-incredible performances !!!!

Sccoach
6 years ago

I’m really missing Stanford expert and swimswam poster “Coach” in these pac 12 comment sections. Where you at Coach?

tammy touchpad error
Reply to  Sccoach
6 years ago

He be too busy celebratin da win erly wiv da teem 2 pay a10tion to ur postz on dis silly web site.

CalBearsssssss
6 years ago

Ali Harrison really stepped up for Cal

Bearly Breathing
6 years ago

Holy cow those are some insane relay times. Nice win by the Card. For the Bears it must be tough to swim so fast and still come in 2nd.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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