LONG BEACH, Calif. - After winning every Pac-10 women's swimming title since
the inception of the Championships in 1987, Stanford University's streak came
to end today as the Arizona Wildcats captured their first-ever title at the
2000 Pac-10 Women's Championships at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool. On the
strength of three individual crowns Arizona tallyed 1,325 points for the win,
while after winning 13-consecutive conference championships, Stanford
finished second with 1,197 points. California finished third (1,182 points),
followed by UCLA (1,043 points) and USC was fifth (975.5 points).
To say that I'm proud of these women is an understatement, Arizona head
coach Frank Busch said. This was great day and hopefully we can keep the
momentum going all the way to Indianapolis for the NCAAs.
The first individual title came from freshman Beth Botsford, the American
record-holder in the 200-meter backstroke, who proved that she is among the
nation's elite by winning the 200-yard backsroke in a time of 1:54.45. Senior
and 15-time All-America Denali Knapp finished fifth in the same race
(1:58.46), while senior Rachel Joseph claimed sixth (1:58.64).
In the 200-yard breaststroke freshman Amanda Beard claimed her first Pac-10
title by coming from behind in the final 50 yards to overtake California's
Staciana Stitts for the win. Beard's time of 2:10.41 missed the Pac-10 record
by less than nine-tenths of a second. Also scoring points in the 200-yard
breaststroke was freshman Julie Manitt (seventh-place, 2:16.02).
The Wildcats had another strong all-around performance in the finals of the
200-yard butterfly as freshman Erin Vogt, swimming unshaved and unrested
broke the Arizona school record in a time of 1:56.74. That time bettered
senior Trina Jackson's 1998 mark off 1:56.87. Meanwhile, Jackson placed
eighth in the same race in a time of 2:02.98. .
In the final event of the day, the 400-yard freestyle relay, the squad of
sophomore Jenny Vanker, sophomore Sarah Tolar, Knapp and sophomore Emily
Mastin finished third in a time of 3:19.19
The Cats also picked up valuable points in the grueling 1,650-yard freestyle,
as Jackson finished second, in a time of 16:18.54 and sophomore Caroline
Kilian placed fifth, in a season-best time of 16:34.81.
In the 100-yard freestyle Tolar led the way with a time of 49.71, good enough
for fourth-place while Vanker finished seventh, in a time of 50.39.
Meanwhile, at the Pac-10 Women's and Men's Diving Championships being held
simultaneously at the McDonald's Swim Stadium on the campus of the University
of Southern California, one Wildcat earned his second title in as many days
and another Cat won the first title of her career. After winning the 1-Meter
Springboard title yesterday sophomore Ruben Vaca proved today that he is
among the top divers in the nation as he was crowned Pac-10 champion in the
10-Meter Platform Competition. For the second time in as many days Vaca
(461.75) outdistanced Marc Briggs of Arizona State (408.00) for the title.
The diving points earned this weekend will be added to the team scores that
are accumulated next weekend in Federal Way, Wash. at the 2000 Pac-10 Men's
Swimming Championships.
Meanwhile on the women's side, junior, All-America Lindsay Berryman was
crowned Pac-10 champion for the first time in her career after winning the
10-Meter platform. After finishing second in the 3-Meter Springboard
yesterday, Berryman (434.40) led the platform competition today from the
beginning and held on for the win over Stanford's McKenze Murphy (412.15).
Other finishers for the women included junior Adrian David (10-Meter Platform
- seventh-place; 383.20), sophomore Sara Quijano (10-Meter Platform -
15th-place; 316.40), senior Andrea Glass (10-Meter Platform - 18th-place;
285.60) and freshman Jenn Hess (10-Meter - 24th place; 237.30) The only other
finisher for the men was junior Arno Bergstrom (10-Meter Platform -
fourth-place; 369.15 points)
The 2000 Pac-10 Men's Championships begin Thursday, March 2, at the King
County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.
END OF MEET
1) ARIZONA 1325 6) ARIZONA STATE 877
2) STANFORD 1197 7) WASHINGTON 460
3) CALIFORNIA 1182 8) WASHINGTON STATE 322
4) UCLA 1043 9) OREGON STATE 291.5
5) USC 975.5
