March 15, 2012

Recap |  Results

Cal Head Coach Teri McKeever

On her team having a strong start...

"We are very pleased with tonight. We had a lot of women step up and it was really awesome for Liv (Jensen) to win as a senior. That was definitely her signature event, so it was really exciting. Caitlin (Leverenz) and Katinka (Hosszu) have been dueling it out for more than a few years and had an awesome race at the Pac-12 (Championships). I was really pleased with our 200-free relay. We had some women really step up for that race."

On her mindset on the team medley relay...

"To be honest we had originally planned to put Liv (Jensen) on there. Katherine was the difference maker today. She was (also) the difference in the 200-yard free relay."

On breaking two NCAA records today...

"I think that stakes are being raised higher in women's sports. I am very fortunate. I have a group of women that do the right thing day in and day out. I think that a student-athlete has a lot of responsibility academically, socially, training wise and they have to be really focused and committed and make good choices. It is something that we are really proud of and we build off from the teams before."

200-Yard Individual Medley - Caitlin Leverenz

On her and Katinka Hosszu getting the top prelim qualifying times while Elizabeth Beisel was disqualified and how that threw off the dynamics of the race...

"I was surprised to hear that Elizabeth got DQed, but I talked to her about it and she kind of took it well and we were talking about how we think the 400 IM is going to be an awesome race, so we're definitely looking forward to that tomorrow. I think Katinka and I have been racing each other and just kind of playing this cat and mouse game for a really long time now. For a long time, I was kind of on the losing (end). I'd get out-touched a million times ... and I think this time I was really glad I got my hand on the wall first. For Katinka, she's an incredible athlete and there's no way I would've broken an NCAA and American record without her there. I think she would say the same thing. It's one of those rivalries where we make each other so much better, and she has helped me a lot in my swimming, I really think."

On her swims this morning and if she thought she would be under 1:52...

"No, I didn't think so. I knew after PAC-12's we were within a tenth of the American and U.S. Open records. We were both joking about it and saying 'Did you see how close we were? We needed to get that!' I didn't really know I could go under 1:52, but I think I just went into the swim not putting limits on myself and I was like 'You know what? I'm going to go for it and see how we do.'"

On if she will approach the 400 IM any differently...

"No, I think my same usual race strategy and going into it the same way. I'm really confident in the training I've put in this year, and I think tonight just getting the ball rolling and I'm hoping to continue it tomorrow. I really think that the three of us are going to be neck and neck and it's going to come down to another person touching us out. Obviously, I want to be the person that touches the other two out, but both Elizabeth and Katinka are awesome competitors, and I'm really excited for the race tomorrow."

50-Yard Freestyle - Liv Jensen, California

On winning the 50 freestyle at Auburn against Auburn's Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace...

"Honestly, I have been thinking about it for a long time. The way I think about it is, people say she's (Vanderpool-Wallace) the defending champion, but no one had won this race yet. I knew I could do it and I knew I had the motivation. She is a great racer and it was a great race."

On getting a good start off the blocks...

"That's a strong point for me. I raced her (Vanderpool-Wallace) in December. We had a good race then and that was where I really got ahead of her was on the start. I knew for this race I was going to have to have a good start to be able to compete with her on that second 25 (yards)."

On the win setting her up for the 100 freestyle...

"It's the next race. I haven't thought too much about it yet. I'm just going to go and race and it's exciting. It proves to me that I can race and I can compete with her (Vanderpool-Wallace) and that's great."

On when she knew she had won the race...

"I knew I had it when I finished on my left hand and she (Vanderpool-Wallace) was right there. I could see down the pool and I knew that I was touching first, but up until that point, no."

On if she was thinking about Margo Geer who finished second...

"I was thinking about me. All the competitors are in the back of my mind, but ultimately it is my race that I can control."

On not swimming the 400 medley relay...

"It was a decision that we were throwing back and forth. We didn't really know what we were going to do. We were pretty confident in what Katherine (Raatz) can pull off in the end of that relay, so it should be good."