WOMEN’S MEET
Arizona’s much-talked about freshman class was stifled today at Stanford, as the Cardinal seemed to have an answer for seemingly every new Wildcat talent.
Sprint freestyler Katrina Konopka was blanked by Janet Hu (23.18) and Julia Ama (23.22) in the 50, and then again by 2012 Olympian Lia Neal (49.17) and Ama (50.04) in the 100. ‘Zona’s back and fly core, which has been impressive this season, was no match for the likes of Hu, freshman Ella Eastin and Ally Howe. Howe took the 100 back (53.6) by over a second, while Hu dominated the 200 back (1:55.46) with Howe in 2nd along with grabbing the 100 fly (53.15).
Finally, the versatile Eastin took control of the 200 fly (1:56.75), an event which looks like a solid bet for her NCAA day four individual entry. Eastin was also 2nd in the 200 free (1:48.50) behind Neal (1:46.90), as well as topping the 200 IM field at 1:59.60.
Sarah Haase was solid in the breaststrokes, taking the 100 (1:01.06) and getting to the wall just .14 ahead of Wildcat Emma Schoettmer (2:14.24). The only event the Cardinal gave up to the Wildcats was the 500 free. Freshman Sarah Shimomura of Arizona touched out Stanford first year Leah Stevens, 4:53.45 to 4:53.84. Stevens, earlier, had won the 1000 free in a time of 10:00.00 on the dot.
Stanford iced the cake with a 3:19.03 400 free relay victory, anchored in a 48.09 by Neal, to win the meet handily, 181 to 114.
MEN’S MEET
The Stanford men were equally as dominant as their women over the Wildcats, as they only gave up one swimming event to the opposition.
In their first year without David Nolan, the Cardinal still has a deep backstroke and IM group at their core. Patrick Conaton led a 1-2-3 sweep in the 200 back (1:45.54), the sophomore coming off of a 3rd place finish in the 100 back (49.66). Freshman Ryan Dudzinski won that one at 48.82. Meanwhile, Max Williamson torched a 1:48.22 to take the 200 IM after leading a 1-2-3 Cardinal sweep in the 200 breast.
Speaking of sweeps, Stanford actually finished at least 1-2, and sometimes 1-2-3, in every single swimming event save for the mile. Arizona junior Ty Fowler came out just ahead of Stanford sophomore Liam Egan in that one, 15:23.24 to 15:23.81. Arizona also got wins on the boards from Rafael Quintero, who took both diving events.
Stanford closed out the meet with a relay of 44’s across the board, finishing up at 2:58.37, over three seconds ahead of Arizona.
The Cardinal took the 173-118 victory.
