Nov. 15, 2012

Day 1 Results at the Arena Invitational

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Led by wins from Caitlin Leverenz in the 200-yard individual medley and by its 400-yard medley relay, second-ranked California finished the first day of the Arena Invitational on top on Thursday at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool. The defending NCAA champion posted 339 points, with San Diego State in second place with 309 points and No 18 Arizona State third with 243 points.

Leverenz - the defending NCAA champion in the 200-yard IM and Olympic bronze medalist in the 200-meter IM - swam a winning time of 1:56.84 in tonight's final. She edged freshman teammate Elizabeth Pelton, who was second with a time of 1:57.11. Both times met the NCAA B qualifying standard. Cal freshman Kelly Naze was eighth in the final with a time of 2:02.07.

In the last women's event of the night at the meet, which includes a men's competition, the Cal quartet of junior Cindy Tran, Leverenz, freshman Rachel Bootsma and Pelton beat the ASU relay, 3:37.64-3:39.15.

Cal opened the night of finals by taking fourth place in the 200-yard freestyle relay, with sophomore Kaylin Bing, Bootsma, freshman Rachael Acker and Tran clocking a time of 1:31.99. Sophomore Melanie Klaren notched Cal's best finish in the 500 free, with her time of 4:55.46 placing her eighth.

The Bears did not win the 50-free final, though alumna Liv Jensen did. The school record-holder in the sprint - with a time of 21.48 - Jensen posted a time of 22.52 to win tonight, with Acker taking Cal's best finish of eighth in a time of 23.36.

The three-day Arena Invitational continues with preliminary races on Saturday morning, starting with the 200-medley relay.

Arena Invitational
Nov. 15 Finals in Long Beach, Calif.

Cal Results

200-Yard Freestyle Relay
4. Cal A (Kaylin Bing, Rachel Bootsma, Rachael Acker, Cindy Tran) 1:31.99.

500-Yard Freestyle
8. Melanie Klaren 4:55.46. 9. Catherine Breed 4:48.29. 13. Stephanie Au 4:55.99.18. Lauren Driscoll 4:55.03.21. Taylor Nanfria 4:57.68. 23. Camille Cheng 4:58.80.

200-Yard Individual Medley
1. Caitlin Leverenz 1:56.84*. 2. Elizabeth Pelton 1:57.11*. 8. Kelly Naze 2:02.07. 11. Caroline Piehl 2:03.61. 12. Yvette Kong 2:03.80. 19. Melissa Bates 2:04.63. 26. Alicia Grima 2:02.73.

50-Yard Freestyle
8. Rachael Acker 23.36. 14. Kaylin Bing 23.48.

400-Yard Medley Relay
1. Cal A (Cindy Tran, Caitlin Leverenz, Rachel Bootsma, Elizabeth Pelton) 3:37.64.

* NCAA B Cut