INDIANAPOLIS – With only one event on the schedule for the opening night of the NCAA Championships, California didn't have much margin for error to showcase its capabilities.
 
And the Golden Bears certainly came through, finishing second in the 800-yard free relay with a time of 6:51.42, which now stands as the No. 3 time in school history. The result was a nearly two-second drop from their time at the Pac-12 Championships three weeks ago. Senior Kristen Vredeveld and three sophomores – Kathleen Baker, Amy Bilquist and Katie McLaughlin – comprised the squad. Freshman Abbey Weitzeil, who was part of the Pac-12 foursome, was able to rest in order to remain fresh for her specialty, Thursday's 50 free.
 
Baker led off with a lifetime-best 1:42.66 split, which was the second-fastest ever for a Cal swimmer leading off the relay and put her No. 5 all-time at the school on the 200 free top performers list. Vredeveld (1:43.97) followed, with Bilquist (1:42.08) third in the water and McLaughlin on anchor (1:42.71).
 
"I thought it was a really good race for us," head coach Teri McKeever said. "Kristen really stepped up and did an amazing job, and with three sophomores, it speaks really well for the future. I think it's important to do better than we did at Pac-12s and get the nerves out. It's a nice way to get the competition going."
 
Stanford won the race in 6.45.91, with Michigan third in 6:53.63.
 
The NCAA meet continues through Saturday and picks up Thursday with six events – 200 free relay, 500 free, 200 individual medley, 50 free, 1-meter diving and 400 medley relay.