Third-ranked Cal won 13 of 16 events, including a sweep of the top three places in three different events, on its way to a 184-113 victory over No. 17 UCLA Saturday before a near-capacity crowd at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
The Golden Bears, who defeated USC Friday and Arizona State and Arizona last weekend, have prevailed in four dual meets over the past eight days. Cal now has two weeks off before hosting Stanford in the team’s final meet of the year Feb. 14 beginning at 11 a.m.
“I think we did an awesome job today,” head coach Teri McKeever. “The thing that sticks out the most is just the amazing weather, the band coming, the atmosphere and different women stepping up in different events. We had a tremendous turnout with our alumnae. I think Farida (Osman) was exceptional, and (Rachel) Bootsma is better than she’s ever been during the year. I think our depth is really starting to show through.”
On Saturday, the Bears won the medley relay starting off the competition for the second day in a row, this time in the 200 medley relay after swimming the 400-yard distance vs. USC Friday. The foursome of Bootsma, Marina Garcia, Osman and Kaylin Bing finished in 1:40.84.
The result was the first of four victories on the afternoon for Bootsma. Individually, she prevailed in the 200 butterfly (1:58.23) and the 100 freestyle (50.08). Then, she came back at the end to swim a leg on the first-place 200 free relay to close out the day’s events.
“I am really happy,” a smiling Bootsma said. “Last year, I struggled and Teri, of course, never gave up on me. I realize how much I love swimming still. It’s just fun to work hard and have my teammates be behind me and for me to be behind my teammates. Whatever I can do or whatever race it is, if I can stand up there for my teammates, that’s all I really care about.”
Bootsma’s 200 fly was the first of three events where the Bears went 1-2-3. In the 200, Noemie Thomas took second with Celina Li third. A short time later, Osman won the 50 free in 22.77, just ahead of Bing and Missy Franklin. In the 100 fly, Osman claimed her second event (53.61), followed by Noemie Thomas and Elizabeth Pelton.
In addition to Osman and Bootsma, other double-winners on the afternoon were Cierra Runge in the 500 (4:50.29) and 1000 (9:55.48) free and Pelton in the 100 (53.94) and 200 (1:55.07) back. Franklin cruised to first in the 200 free in 1:46.82, Li posted a comfortable 5-second margin of victory in the 400 IM in 4:17.34, and Garcia won the 200 breast in 2:14.58.
