Stanford Clocks 3:25.15 for 400 Medley Relay American, NCAA Record

2018 WOMEN’S PAC-12 SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Stanford closed out night 3 of the 2018 Women’s Pac-12 Championships with a new American and NCAA Record in the 400 medley relay as they battled with rival Cal. They were practically in a dead heat after backstroke, as Ally Howe touched in 50.21 to Kathleen Baker‘s 50.24. On the breast leg, Kim Williams gave the Cardinal the lead as she put up a 58.61 to Ali Harrison‘s 59.06. Cal outsplit them slightly on the fly leg with Noemie Thomas‘ 50.20 to Janet Hu‘s 50.38, but Simone Manuel threw down a 45.95 anchor leg to seal the deal as Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil swam a 46.00 to give the Bears silver.

Both teams were well under the former American Record and NCAA Record of 3:26.14, which was set by the Cardinal at Pac-12s back in 2016. Hu and Howe returned from that record-setting relay. Howe has made huge improvements since then, as she’s now the American Record holder in the 100 back and split over a second and a half faster tonight than she did in 2016.

SPLITS COMPARISON: 400 MEDLEY RELAY

Team Back Split Breast Split Fly Split Free Split Final Time
Stanford (2018) Ally Howe– 50.21 Kim Williams– 58.61 Janet Hu– 50.38 Simone Manuel– 45.95 3:25.15
Cal (2018) Kathleen Baker– 50.24 Ali Harrison– 59.06 Noemie Thomas– 50.20 Abbe Weitzeil- 46.00 3:25.50
Stanford (2016) Ally Howe– 51.89 Sarah Haase- 57.02 Janet Hu– 50.65 Lia Neal- 46.58 3:26.14

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marklewis
6 years ago

The difference was in the breaststroke leg. Cal was close enough that they could come out on top in a rematch at NCAAs.

If Baker swam her back leg in the mid 49.s, that would close the gap.

Double Arm Freestyle
Reply to  marklewis
6 years ago

Unless Howe does the same, she’s been 49.6

swimmer
6 years ago

Based on individual results, with Hu going 49 100bk and Howe 51.0 100fly, I wonder if there is consideration to switch them on the relay at NCAA’s.

Yozhik
6 years ago

It has been happening typically in IM competition: not those win who have better strongest stroke but those loose who have weaker weakest stroke. But that’s what exactly has happened in this relay.
Stanford vs Cal:
FR: +0.05
BK: +0.03
BU: -0.18
BR: +0.45

Bearly Breathing
6 years ago

Can’t wait for the rematch at NCAAs

AvidSwimFan
6 years ago

Sarah Haase was a breaststroke stud for Standford, too bad it never translated to LCM. Congrats to Stanford!

CraigH
Reply to  AvidSwimFan
6 years ago

She got down to a 1:06-low in the 100 Breast LC at a Grand Priz Meet, if I recall correctly; however she had like a weird concussion leading up to trials that kept her from ideal training. It was too bad.

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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