The Cal Golden Bears topped the Stanford Cardinal 158 to 142 despite three wins from Stanford’s superstar freshman Simone Manuel.
Stanford jumped out to an early lead in the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay. Ally Howe, Sarah Haase, Janet Hu, and Lia Neal hit the wall in 1:39.04, just four tenths of a second ahead of the Cal team of Rachel Bootsma, Celina Li, Noemie Thomas, and Farida Osman. The Cal team finished in 1:39.44.
Haase’s breaststroke split, a 27.38 to Li’s 28.66, proved to be the difference maker on the relay, as it gave Neal, who split a 22.38, enough cushion to outlast Osman’s 21.89 anchor leg.
Cal quickly answered back with a sweep of the 1000 free. Cierra Runge lead the way with a 9:57.10, Catherine Breed was second with a 10:07.97, and Melanie Klaren would complete the sweep with a 10:09.70.
Runge would have a big day for the Golden Bears. She would go on to win the 500 freestyle in 4:51.62 with Breed again taking second in 4:53.73. Tara Halsted took third for the Cardinal in 4:56.73.
Manuel and Missy Franklin then dueled in a race between the top two 200 freestylers in the NCAA. Franklin led through the first 150 yards 1:17.99 to Manuel’s 1:18.19. Manuel was gaining, however, out splitting Franklin 26.53 to 27.12 over the third 50, and then used a 26.06 last 50 to win the event. Franklin split a 27.06 over the last lap.
Manuel touched in 1:44.25 to Franklin’s 1:45.05.
Later, Manuel would win both the 50 freestyle in 22.46, and the 100 freestyle in 48.70.
In the 50, Manuel topped Cal’s Osman and Kaylin Bing, who finished in 22.52 and 22.92, respectively. In the 100, Neal took second for the Cardinal in 49.70, and Bing again took third in 50.20.
Following the 200 freestyle, Howe and Pelton would duel in the 100 backstroke, although it was Pelton taking the victory for the Golden Bears in 53.63 to Howe’s 53.75. Cal freshman Jasmine Mau was third in 55.02.
Stanford answered with a sweep of their own in the 100 breaststroke. Haase led the way for the Cardinal in 1:00.17, and Katie Olsen took second with a 1:00.51. Freshman Heidi Poppe took third in 1:01.79.
Thomas, Hu, and Bootsma battled in the 200 fly, with just a tenth of a second separating the three. Bootsma posted the fastest closing split in 30.49 to Hu’s 30.85 and Thomas’ 31.15. However.
The former two were too late, as Thomas held on to take the win in 1:58.00. Hu was second in 1:58.05. Bootsma took third in 1:58.10.
Following the sprint freestyles, Franklin and Pelton, the top two 200 backstrokes in the NCAA, took the top two spots in the 200 back in 1:54.36 and 1:55.50, respectively. Howe finished in third with a 1:57.57.
Olsen and Haase responded with a one two finish of their own in the 200 breaststroke. Olsen’s 2:11.95 paced the field with Haase’s 2:13.37 taking second. Marina Garcia Urzainqui rounded out the top three with a 2:14.47.
Following up her second place finish in the 50, Osman won the 100 fly with a 52.94 to Hu’s 53.16. Cal scored a third place from Thomas, who finished in 53.71.
Pelton, Franklin, and Li added some separation in points for the Golden Bears with a sweep in the 200 IM. Pelton led with a 1:58.76, Franklin hit the wall in 1:59.36, and Li completed the sweep with a 2:00.37.
Stanford won the last event of the day, the 400 freestyle relay, but it was not enough for the Cardinal to win the meet. The Stanford “A” relay of Hu, Lindsey Engel, Manuel, and Neal won the event in 3:17.30. Bing, Bootsma, Osman, and Franklin touched second for Cal in 3:19.58.
I’m wondering what the outcome would have been if Maddy Schaeffer would have swum in this meet.
Runge goes undefeated Arizona State, 1 of 2 at Arizona(?) USC, UCLA, Stanford…last 6 individual events and I think she’s won 9 of 10 since their winter training trip. I’m a fan. It’ll be interesting to see what she’ll be able to do at Pac 12’s and NCAA’s.
In the 200 free Franklin was half a second faster than she was last year at this meet. Gives me hope for a sub 1:40 from her this year.
Simone Manuel out splitted Missy Franklin 26.06 to 27.06 over the last 50 in the 200 free! 😯 She swims 48.70 and 1.44 low unrested and not suited. That’s . . . impressive!
In the same conditions Missy’s 1.54 in the 200 back is very cool. And she’s still the huge favorite to win the 200 free at NCAAs. Only girl able to swim 1.40 right now.
First Cal breaststroker in 1.02.62. 🙄 While Stanford breaststrokers are 1,2,3.
Kristen Vredeveld in 23.91 in the 50 free. That’s not possible. 😥 22.17 in 2011
Another great battle between Liz Pelton and Missy Franklin in the 200 IM. I hope both girls will swim that event at NCAAs.… Read more »
Great meet. It was a very close one too. Stanford’s relays are going to do very well in the big meets. Manuel is a beast.