ATHENS, Ga. – Cal posted three event wins and recorded three more NCAA "A" qualifying marks on the second day of competition at the Georgia Fall Invitational Saturday. Senior Noemie Thomas led the pack with her win in the 100-yard butterfly and swimming a leg on the victorious 200-yard medley relay.
 
The Golden Bears started off the finals session with their triumph in the medley relay as the quartet of Amy Bilquist, Abbey Weitzeil, Thomas and Katie McLaughlin reached the wall in 1:34.04, a time that automatically qualifies for the NCAA Championships in March and ranks as the No. 4 time in school history.
 
Freshman Sarah Darcel was up next and posted the fourth-fastest 400 individual medley ever at Cal as she claimed the event in 4:06.58, with freshman Dannie Dilsaver fourth in 4:13.56 and sophomore Chenoa Devine seventh in 4:18.66.
 
Thomas then smoked the field with a more than one-second win in the 100 fly with her NCAA "A" mark of 50.77. McLaughlin was next in a personal collegiate best of 51.78. Maddie Murphy also made the final and took fifth in 52.03.
 
In the 200 free, Weitzeil swam 1:44.47, a collegiate best for her, to claim fourth place, and freshman Robin Neumann placed eighth in 1:45.33.
 
The 100 breaststroke saw freshman Ali Harrison touch the wall in 1:00.54 to become the seventh-fastest ever at Cal in the event. Freshman Dannie Dilsaver was eighth in 1:02.78.
 
Bilquist led the 100 backstroke at the turn, but was out-touched by 0.01 of a second by Georgia's Kylie Stewart at the finish. Her time was a season-best 51.62, while sophomore Keaton Blovad took the B final in a PR 52.39.
 
The Bears closed out the session with another NCAA "A" qualifying time as McLaughlin, Bilquist, Weitzeil and Neumann were second to Michigan in 6:59.38.
 
"We had a number of women swim times that were under what was invited to the NCAA meet last year," head coach Teri McKeever said. "I was proud of Sarah for posting a time what should qualify for nationals and ranks so high in Cal history. Noemie got her A cut in the 100 fly and Amy was really tough tonight. We had a solid day all-around, and a lot of our newcomers are getting a sense of what a high-level meet is. We've got a long day tomorrow and we need to keep challenging ourselves and finish strong."

Kathleen Baker, who has already posted NCAA "A" qualifying times in three events, did not make the trip to Georgia due to illness, deciding instead to recover and prepare for upcoming final exams. The Bears are also competing without their divers, who recently wrapped up three days of competition at the Lumberjack Invitational in Arizona.
 
Michigan leads the team standings with 670.5 points, followed by Cal with 601.5, host Georgia with 552 and Virginia with 389.5.
 
Racing concludes Sunday with prelims starting at 6:30 a.m. PT and finals at noon PT Saturday. The finals session will be streamed by the SEC Network.