Olympic medalist gold and silver medalist Kathleen Baker became the Queen of the Pool this weekend in her first meet back after Rio. The meet pitted swimmers from Cal and Cal Poly in each of the 100 yard events (fly, back, breast, free, IM) in a competition for the combined fastest time.
Baker, a sophomore, finished in a total 4:43.28. Cal senior and three-time defending champion Celina Li finished second in 4:44.91 followed by sophomore Amy Bilquist in 4:45.24. Double Olympic medalist freshman Abbey Weitzeil was fourth with 4:45.46 and sophomore Katie McLaughlin was fifth with 4:52.10.
Individually, Baker won the 100 fly in 54.11 and the 100 IM in 55.79. Weitzeil won the 100 free with 49.81 and the 100 breast in 1:04.56. Bilquist was the 100 back champion in 53.25.
The top finisher from Cal Poly was freshman Amelia Feick in fourteenth with 5:04.75. Her highest individual finish was 5th in the 100 breast with 1:06.42.
The Cal Golden Bears will jump back into action October 7th at Oregon State, later hosting Washington State on October 21st. The Cal Poly women have an alumni meet on October 8th and an intrasquad the 15th. They will travel to UC Santa Barbara on October 29th.
Before anyone freaks out too much, Marina Garcia (who has been Cal’s top breaststroker in the past) got DQ’ed in the 100 breast. Her time may have been faster.
The top breaststroker DQs in a throwaway season opener? Freaking out might be in order.
Nah. Like you say, it’s a throwaway season opener. Meaningless.
Garcia is an occasionally-great 200 LCM breaststroker, but has not shown any progression in 3 years at short course or short distances. She’s probably about as good as Celina Li in the 50/100 SCY br.
i don’t know why cal doesn’t put baker on the breast leg. Bilquist is a faster backstroker in syc than baker is, so bilquist can swim back and baker swim breast. At least on the 200 medley.
One commenter on Bloomberg had Baker as the Queen of the TUEs . 5 including a blood distributor .
Yes, USA swimming needs to come clean about their Olympians.
If Weitzeil is swimming breast, seems like a waste of great freestyler. She is the American record holder in the 50 free.
I feel like Kathleen Baker would be a good fit for breaststroke, even if it is only on relays. Bilquist could cover backstroke, and Baker has been as quick as a :59 in the 100 breaststroke.
I agree it’s shocking that Weitzell is their best breastroker and that cal definitely has a breastroke problem, but it’s worth noting Marina Garcia was DQd in the breastroke.
I’m also surprised that Baker beat Osman, Thomas, and McLaughlin in fly.
when is the last time Cal women had a true stud breastroker? Jess Hardy for one year? lack of talent or not very well coached?
They’ve had a bunch of good breaststrokers over the years, and haven’t had much success with them.
Not very well coached.
Leverenz set an NCAA record in the 200 in 2012. Stop the Teri hating.
Leverenz was also setting NAG records as a 16 year old.
Stacianna Stitts?
Everyone is obviously swimming tired. This meet isn’t even a dual meet, it’s meaningless.
Cal does need some breastrokers though
Baker was second to Eastin at NCAA’s so its not surprising.
Olympic medalist gold and silver medalist.