Bear Tracks: Oct. 9th California Golden Bears mixed-sports roundup

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October 9, 12:09 PM

by Rob Calonge, Cal Bears Examiner

 

 

The women placed 5th in the NCAA Championships
last year

Swimming - The swimming will commence this weekend October 11, in Stockton when the men and women participate in a dual meet against the Tigers of Pacific.

There won't be any diving at this competition, just swimming.  The diving will begin October 30th.

The women come into the season loaded with talent.  On the team are eight All-Americans returning for action:

Madison Kennedy (senior) specializes in the 50-meter free and broke a school record last season in the event.  At the 2008 U.S. Open Championships, she earned a gold medal in the event and a spot 2009 World University Games roster.  She also received a silver medal in the 100-meter free.

Dana Vollmer (senior) placed fifth in the U.S. Olympic Time Trials in the 100-meter butterfly.  She had the fourth fastest heat out of 140 competitors to advance to the semifinals.  Placed seventh in the finals of the 200 free.  She also won an Olympic gold medal in 2004 as part of the 800-free relay that set a world record.

Lauren Rogers (senior) placed fourth in the finals of the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. Olympic Time Trials.  She was also select to the 2009 World University Games roster and won the bronze at the 2008 U.S. Open Championships.

Lauren Boyle (junior) joined her native New Zealand Olympic team in Beijing competing in the 4x200 freestyle relay.  She also holds school records in the 1,650-yard free and the 1,000-yard free.

Amanda Sims (sophomore) was selected to USA Swimming's 2009 World UniversityGames roster after earning a bronze in the 100 fly at the 2008 U.S. Open Championships.

Hannah Wilson (sophomore) competed in the 2008 Summer Games, for Hong Kong, in Beijing in the 100 fly and 100 free events and was also a participant in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Tara Thomas (sophomore) was a 2008 All-American in the 100-yard fly.

Alexandra Ellis (junior) was tops in the Pac-10 in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke in 2007-08.  She was part of the 400-yard medley relay that finished fifth at the 2008 NCAA Championships.

Sara Isakovic (freshman) won the 200-meter free silver medal at the Beijing Olympics for Slovenia.  She also competed at the Athens games in the same event.

The men are stacked with 5 Olympians on the roster

The men come into the season with plenty of talent also as they boast five Olympians from the Beijing games.  Last season the Bears finished fourth in the NCAA Championships after going into the competition ranked 11th.

Nathan Adrian (sophomore) sat out last season to train for Beijing.  He went on to win a gold medal as par to of the 400-meter free relay team.  He was also the first male Cal swimmer to make it on an Olympic team since 2000.  He won a gold medal at the 2008 Short Course World Swimming Championships in the 100-meter free.

Martti Aljand (sophomore) is a five-time Estonia national champion in the 200 IM.  He competed for Estonia at the Beijing games in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke.

Guy Barnea (sophomore) swam for Israel at the Beijing Olympics in the 100-meter backstroke.  He holds the Israeli records in 50-meter backstroke, 100-meter backstroke, and the 100-meter butterfly.

Damir Dugonjic (sophomore) competed in Beijing for Slovenia in the 100-meter breaststroke.  He won the Croatian Open Championships in the 50-meter breaststroke, nearly setting a new national record.

Martin Liivamagi (freshman) competed for Estonia in the 2008 Beijing games in the 200-meter individual medley (IM).  Will also compete in the breaststroke.

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