UCLA
USA Swimming College Challenge
Bruin-Backed Pac-12 Wins USA College Challenge
October 22, 2017 | Swimming & Diving
LOS ANGELES – The USC-hosted USA College Challenge wrapped at Uytengsu Aquatics Center Sunday, as the Pac-12 team defeated representatives from the United States National Team, 326.5-286.5. The Pac-12 group of both men and women featured three Bruins, senior Katie Grover, junior Sandra Soe and sophomore Kenisha Liu. Each swimmer picked up points over the weekend.
The Pac-12 entered Sunday's action leading the competition by a 155-141 margin. The women tackled the 1000 Free first and Soe turned in a fourth-place finish to account for two points. Her time of 9:53.85 was 12.70 seconds faster than Washington's Jasmine Margetts and nearly 19 seconds ahead of Ruby Martin of USA Swimming.
One day after turning in a standout performance in the 100 Fly, Grover took on a talented 200 Free field. The Atlanta native posted a sixth-place finish, checking in with a time of 1:46.88. The race was a tight one, as the veteran's effort placed her just over five seconds back of the winner, Katie Ledecky of Stanford.
Liu finished sixth in the 200 IM, notching a time of 2:00.54. Ella Eastin of Stanford and Kathleen Baker of California tied for first just over seven seconds ahead at 1:53.24.
The Pac-12 took a 302.5-276.5 after the men's 200 IM—the last individual event of the weekend. Needing 306.5 to secure the overall victory, the Pac-12 "A" team of Louise Hansson, Janet Hu, Ledecky and Abbey Weitzel made it official with a first-place time of 3:11.28. Bruins made up half of the conference's "C" team, as Grover and Soe were joined by Hannah Cox of Arizona and Kendall Dawson of Arizona State. The quartet would finish fourth with a time of 3:22.12.
In the inaugural USA College Challenge, a group from the United States National Team coasted past a team of Big Ten all-stars at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis, 349-247.
Next up for No. 21 UCLA is its home-opening Breast Cancer Awareness Meet on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 11:00 a.m. The Bruins will welcome Washington State, Arkansas and UC Davis to the Spieker Aquatics Center. For more information on the meet, stay connected to uclabruins.com and @UCLASwimAndDive on Twitter.
Players Mentioned
