USC’s Kaitlyn Dobler Wins Second Pac-12 Breaststroke Title
For the second day in a row, freshman Kaitlyn Dobler picked up a Pac-12 breaststroke title, this time in the 200y breast, to lead the Trojans on Saturday (Feb. 28) during the final night of the 2021 Pac-12 Women's Swimming and Diving Championships.
Touching in 2:06.53, Dobler posted the eighth fastest time in the country this season, and is first Trojan since Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Soni (2009, 2008, 2006) to sweep the Pac-12 breaststroke events. She is also the first Woman of Troy to win two Pac-12 Titles as a freshman since Soni in 2006.
Junior Isabelle Odgers also appeared in the championship final of the 200y breaststroke, finishing fifth in 2:09.28.
Sophomore Aela Janvier got the evening started for USC, finishing eighth in the A final of the 200y back in 1:56.99. Earlier in the day, Janvier posted a 1:56.52 to earn a spot in the championship final.
In the 100y free, freshman Anicka Delgado earned her first podium appearance, finishing third in an NCAA B cut time of 48.44. Delgado posted a 48.93 in prelims to earn a spot in the A final.
USC's other scorers in the 100y free were seniors Jemma Schlicht (48.76) and Marta Ciesla (49.43) who finished second and seventh, respectively in the consolation final.
Also earning a spot on the podium tonight was junior Hallie Kinsey who touched second in the 200y fly, posting a 1:56.25. Kinsey out-touched Stanford's Hannah Kukurugya by .04 to take second.
Junior Makenna Turner also swam in the A final of the 200y fly, finishing sixth in a PR 1:58.51.
The Trojans sprint quartet of Delgado, Schlicht, Ciesla and Dobler returned to the block to close the meet with a second-place finish in the 400y free relay and post an NCAA A cut time of 3:14.18.
USC finished fourth overall with 1006 points, marking the first time in 12 years the Trojans have not finished top three or better at the Pac-12 Championships. USC still managed an impressive finish with only 11 girls entered in the meet, compared to many other Pac-12 schools with 24-man rosters. Cal won the team title with 1519.5 points, while Stanford was second (1445).
USC will return to training before gearing up for the NCAA women's Swimming and Diving Championships March 17-20 in Greensboro, N.C.
MEN'S DIVING
During the final day of the 2021 Pac-12 Men's Diving Championships, sophomore George Korovin and freshman Tatsuya Machida advanced to the championship final of the platform competition. Korovin finished fourth overall with 357.55, and Machida was seventh with 258.55.
USC diving will return to Arizona March 8-10 for the Zone E Diving Championships, hosted this time at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz.