reshman Riley Scott won three races, including an exciting come-from-behind effort in the 200y IM to set up a clinching 200y free relay as the No. 7 USC women’s swimming and diving team defeated No. 3 California, 153-147, under the lights at Uytengsu Aquatics Center on Friday (Jan. 29).
The Trojan women improved to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the Pac-12 in their second consecutive home win over the Bears. Cal suffered its first defeat, dropping to 5-1, 4-1.
Scott won the 100y and 200y breaststrokes but it was her victory in the 200y IM that turned the meet late.
With Cal leading, 134-130, after 3-meter diving, the Bears were in position to clinch the meet with a win in the 200y IM. Cal held the top three spots after 100 yards, but Scott made her move in the breaststroke. She led entering the freestyle and motored home to win in 1:59.11, 0.41 ahead of Cal’s Kelly Naze.
The Bears claimed the next three spots in the race, but led only 143-140 heading into the final relay.
The Trojans’ 200y free relay took advantage of the opportunity as junior Anika Apostalon, senior Kasia Wilk, junior Evan Swenson and freshman Kirsten Vose won in 1:30.64 to clinch the victory.
USC kicked off the meet with a pool record of 3:35.33 in the 400y medley relay with sophomore Hannah Weiss, Scott, senior Kendyl Stewart and Apostalon. That lowered the 2008 mark of 3:35.52 set by Kristen Lahey, Rebecca Soni, Tanya Krisman and Rachael Waller.
Freshmen Allie Wooden (9:50.17) and Elizabeth Stinson (9:51.53) opened the individual swimming with a 1-2 finish in the 1000y free with Cal’s Celina Li third (10:08.79). Wooden’s time was a season-best.
Cal freshman Amy Bilquist claimed the 200y free in 1:47.12 with Trojan junior Chelsea Chenault second in 1:47.81. Bear senior Rachael Acker next won the 100y back in 52.95 while Weiss took second in 53.49 and Stewart finished third (53.69) for her first ‘B’ cut in the race this year.
USC freshmen rose up again in the 100y breast as Scott (1:00.94) and Vose (1:02.08) went 1-2 and junior Kelsey Kafka took fourth (1:03.46).
The Bears responded with their own 1-2 finish in the 200y fly as Naze took first (1:56.23) and sophomore Noemie Thomas touched second (1:56.58). Freshman Madison Wright led USC in the heat in third (1:57.02), 0.35 off her season best.
In the final race before the first diving break, Cal junior Farida Osman won in 22.51, hitting the wall just ahead of Apostalon’s 22.76.
Freshman diver Madison Witt claimed the 1-meter springboard today, capturing the valuable nine points by the slimmest of margins, scoring 269.03 to Cal’s Anne Kastler’s 268.58. Senior Sam Adams was third (258.53). In the 3-meter, Adams (284.40) and Witt (281.18) went 2-3 behind Cal’s Sara-Lina Boushakra’s 286.35.
Following the diving break, Apostalon won the 100y free in 48.85, flopping places with Cal’s Osman, who was second in 49.74.
The Bears swept the top three spots in the 200y back, led by another win by Bilqust (1:55.86). Cal senior Elizabeth Pelton was second (1:56.44) and Naze was third (1:56.97).
USC answered with its own 1-2-3 in the 200y breast as Scott doubled up to win in 2:11.11 with Vose second (2:14.43) and Kafka third (2:16.05).
Cal freshman Kathleen Baker won the 500y free in 4:45.49 while USC finished 2-3-4 led by Wooden’s 4:46.19. Chenault was third (4:46.23).
Cal’s Thomas won the 100y fly in 52.25 with Stewart second (53.08), setting the stage for USC’s exciting comeback.
“That was the most fun meet I’ve ever seen,” USC Coach Dave Salo said. “The focus was on racing and the women had a great time focusing on their team. Cal is an exceptional team and it has raised the level of expectations for our team with all of our young freshmen.”
USC returns Saturday to host No. 2 Stanford at 12 p.m.
