SAN LUIS OBISPO – Junior Kathleen Baker earned the right to wear her crown for a second consecutive year after winning the Queen of the Pool pentathlon Friday at Cal Poly.
 
The season-opening meet features a unique set of racing between the Golden Bears and Mustangs, with each swimmer taking part in five 100-yard races – freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley. The person with the lowest combined time is deemed the queen.
 
Baker, coming off a three-medal performance at the FINA World Championships over the summer, placed first or second in every event and finished with a total time of 4:39.54 - a nearly four-second improvement from 2016. Freshman Sarah Darcel was second in 4:45.17, with sophomore Abbey Weitzeil third in 4:47.34, and junior Amy Bilquist fourth in 4:50.87.
 
Among the individual races, Baker claimed first in the 100 back (53.90) and 100 IM (56.52), while she was second in the 100 free (50.74), 100 breast (1:04.17) and 100 fly (54.16).
 
Weitzeil prevailed in the 100 free in 50.61, freshman Ali Harrison won the 100 breast in 1:04.03, and senior Noemie Thomas took first in her specialty, the 100 fly, in 54.16.

Cal's men's team joined the women for the meet Friday, with Golden Bear Matthew Josa tabbed King of the Pool.
 
Cal returns to action Oct. 5-7 at the Fresno State Invitational. The Bears' first home appearance is Nov. 3 against Oregon State followed by a Nov. 4 matchup with North Carolina State.