With Final Relay Win, UCLA Women Beat USC for First Time Since 2007

Photo Courtesy: McKenna Ehrmantraut

It took UCLA four-hundredths of a second to banish 14 years of history against its crosstown rival.

Claire Grover led UCLA’s women’s 400 freestyle relay to a victory in the concluding race of the two-day meet, edging USC’s relay by .04 seconds to earn a 151-148 win over USC, the Bruins’ first win over the Trojans since 2007.

Day 1 results

Glover split 48.04 on the final leg for the 19th-ranked Bruins, as the team of Sophie Kosturos, Brooke Schaffer and Ella Kirschke clocked in at 3:15.80. Her previous best split was a 48.74.

Anicka Delgado split 48.42, which was almost enough to protect the lead handed of to her by Kaitlyn Dobler (48.29 split) on the final leg. Marta Ciesla and Isabelle Odgers kept USC within striking distance.

“The defining factor, when it came down to it, was the amount of heart and belief on this team,” UCLA head coach Jordan Wolfrum said in a press release. “The whole meet was back-and-forth with exceptionally fast racing on both sides of the pool, but there was an ‘it’ factor with our team this weekend – the energy was exceptional, we were loud and proud – and it was the result of a really challenging year where they’ve all being grinding together. It was nice to see them have a little reward for the work they’ve put in this season.”

USC had the better of the races on the day. Jemma Schlicht and Ciesla went 1-2 in the 100 free, then Aela Janvier won the 200 backstroke and Odgers claimed the 200 breaststroke with Margaret Aroesty second. Odgers would also win the 200 IM.

UCLA turned the tide with three of the top four spots in the 500 free, led by freshman Greta Fanta. Fellow rookie Sam Baron and Gabby Dang went 1-2 in the 100 butterfly, before Kirschke and Delaney Smith went 2-3 in the 200 IM to salvage points behind Odgers.

USC’s men’s team was on the right side of a 160-94 decision over Utah.

USC swept the scored events Saturday, with Harry Homans winning the 200 back and 200 IM. Nikola Miljenic won the 100 free, Mario Koenigsperger claimed the 200 breast, and Dominic Margarino (500 free) and Alexei Sancov (100 fly) added victories. Miljenic, Sancov, Billy Cruz Zuniga and Max Saunders won the concluding 400 free relay in far less drama than the women’s race supplied.

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