Cal Women Lead UC San Diego After First Day Behind Isabelle Stadden
The No. 7 California women’s swimming & diving team took at least the top two spots in three different events Friday afternoon as the Golden Bears opened up a 162-66 lead after the first day of an invitational-style dual meet at UC San Diego.
Cal especially dominated the 50-yard freestyle, capturing the top eight spots. Freshman Mary-Ambre Moluh, a 2024 Olympian for her native France, won her first dual meet race as a Golden Bear with a time of 22.16. Senior McKenna Stone finished second (23.23) and sophomore Femke Hoppenbrouwer was third (23.24).
Cal had the top four finishers in the 500 freestyle with sophomore Kathryn Hazle winning in a time of 4:48.60. Graduate transfer Maya Geringer was second (4:50.18), senior Fanni Fabian was third (4:50.53) and sophomore Ava Chavez placed fourth (4:42.03).
Fifth-year senior Isabelle Stadden, the 2024 Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year, captured the 200 individual medley with a mark of 1:59.03 while grad transfer Margaux McDonald was second at 2:01.39. Cal also took the top two spots in the 200 butterfly with senior Lizzy Cook winning in a time of 1:57.26 and Lilou Ressencourt, another 2024 French Olympian, finishing second.
Cal also captured the 200 medley relay as Stadden (backstroke), freshman Arielle Brotman (breaststroke), Ressencourt (butterfly) and senior Stephanie Akakabota (freestyle) clocked a time of 1:39.03.
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