No. 1 Cal Topples Stanford, 178-117
STANFORD – Isabel Ivey won three events – including Cal dual-meet records in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle – leading the No. 1- ranked Golden Bears to a 178-117 victory over 10th-rated Stanford on Saturday. Overall, Cal captured 11 of 16 events, with a stretch that featured eight in a row.
The result marked Cal's first win in the series since 2015, a 158-142 decision in Berkeley, and first at Stanford in 15 years when the Bears prevailed, 169-131 in 2006.
Ivey was Cal's only multi-winner on the day, and started her afternoon with a season-best 51.12 in the 100 back to maintain her position as the No. 2 performer in the country this year. The time was just under Isabelle Stadden's dual-meet mark of 51.24 from Jan. 30 against UCLA. A short while later, Ivey swam to a lifetime-best 47.24 in the 100 free to break her own Cal dual-meet record from two weeks ago in Berkeley. She ended her day with a 51.68 winning time in the 100 butterfly.
The Bears got the meet off to a good start when Stadden, Ema Rajic, Ivey and Emily Gantriis secured a victory in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:35.98, which was only 0.15 seconds off their season-best time. After Sarah DiMeco took second in the 1000 free (PR 9:43.60), Robin Neumann began a run of eight consecutive Cal wins when she prevailed in the 200 free in 1:44.10.
Rajic came within an eyelash of breaking her school record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 58.89, while Rachel Klinker won the 200 fly in 1:54.35. Gantriis led a 1-2-3 Cal finish in the 50 free (22.27), with Elise Garcia and Eloise Riley right behind. Following Briana Thai's win on the 1-meter springboard, the Bears swept the top three spots in the 100 free, as Riley and Gantriis touched after Ivey.
Cal's other two winners on the day were Stadden in the 200 back (1:53.00) and Alicia Wilson in the 200 IM (1:55.37).
"I thought today was a good meet for us and I'm really proud of the women on our team," head coach Teri McKeever said. "I appreciate Stanford honoring our seniors before the meet and I'd like to congratulate their seniors, as well. Now, we'll turn our attention to Pac-12's where we hope to keep building on our success these last few weeks."
The Bears conclude their dual-meet season at 3-0 and next head to the Pac-12 Championships Feb. 24-27 in Houston, Texas.