Relay Sweep On Opening Night
HOUSTON – A championship-record performance in the 400-yard medley relay highlighted a pair of relay victories for California on the opening night of the 2021 Pac-12 Men's Swimming Championships at Houston's CRWC on Sunday.
The Golden Bear quartet of Bryce Mefford, Reece Whitley, Ryan Hoffer and Björn Seeliger won the 400 medley relay in 3:02.60, lowering Cal's 12-year-old meet record of 3:03.30 from 2009. An eye-catching 50.83 breaststroke split by Whitley put the Bears in the driver's seat. Cal's 3:02.60 mark stands as the nation's second-fastest time.
Cal opened the night with a 6:11.98 win in the 800 free relay. Destin Lasco and Daniel Carr swam the first two legs of the event. With the Bears trailing by more than two seconds at the halfway mark of the race, Trenton Julian swam a pivotal 1:31.52 split in the third leg to push Cal in front. Zach Yeadon then finished it off with a 1:32.96 split. The win was Cal's sixth straight in the 800 free relay at the Pac-12 Championships and stands as third fastest in the nation this year.
With diving points included, Cal sits in fifth place (102 points) after the first day of the Pac-12 Swimming Championships.
UP NEXT
The second day of the Pac-12 Swimming Championships will feature the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free and 200 free relay events. Prelims for the three individual events start at 9 a.m. PT Monday. Finals sessions begin at 4 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Now app and Pac-12.com.
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