Get ready for an exciting day 2 of the 2025 Minnesota Invite! The Cal Bears are on a roll, dominating the meet so far. But here's where it gets interesting: they're not the top seeds in one event - the women's 100 butterfly. Harvard's Kiley Wilhelm leads the way, but Cal's Annie Jia is hot on her heels.
Today's schedule includes a mix of events: the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, and 100 back. And to top it off, we have two relays to watch out for!
Let's start with the women's 200 medley relay. Cal's team, featuring Mary-Ambre Moluh, Silje Slyngstadli, Annie Jia, and Mia West, dominated from start to finish, clocking an impressive 1:34.88. Moluh's leadoff split was her fastest 50 back ever, a remarkable achievement. This performance moves them up in the national standings, a great boost for the team.
The men's 200 medley relay was equally thrilling. Cal's foursome, including Lucca Battaglini, Yamato Okadome, Casper Puggaard, and Nans Mazellier, took the win with a time of 1:22.33, moving them up to sixth in the NCAA rankings. Battaglini's leadoff split was a personal best, a sign of his growing talent.
Now, onto the individual events. In the women's 100 butterfly, Cal's Mia West and Annie Jia went 1-2, both swimming under 52 seconds. Harvard's Kiley Wilhelm rounded out the podium. West's time was a huge improvement, smashing her previous best. Jia, on the other hand, might be eyeing that elusive 50-second barrier, having posted a personal best of 50.35 last year.
The men's 100 butterfly saw Cal's Lucca Battaglini dominate, winning with a time of 45.43. His teammate, Sam Quarles, gave him a run for his money, finishing just two hundredths behind. Minnesota's Jacob Johnson took third. Battaglini's performance was a significant improvement, undercutting his previous best by nearly seven-tenths.
In the women's 400 IM, Cal freshman Teagan O'Dell led the way for the first 200 yards, with teammate Alexa McDevitt close behind. O'Dell held on to win narrowly, with McDevitt and Kathryn Hazle completing a Cal sweep. O'Dell's time was just shy of her season best, but still an impressive performance.
The men's 400 IM was a quieter affair, but Cal's Humberto Najera still posted a time that would have qualified him for last season's NCAA meet. He won with a time of 3:41.59, just off his personal best. Cal's Ryan Erisman and Freddy Klein also had strong swims, finishing under 3:48.
The women's 200 freestyle saw Cal's Claire Weinstein lead a 1-2-3-4 sweep. Weinstein touched first, with Mia West close behind. Ava Chavez and Ella Cosgrove completed the top four, separated by just a tenth. Weinstein's time was a solid performance, but she's capable of even faster swims.
Cal dominated the men's 200 freestyle as well, with Keaton Jones taking the win. Thackston McMullan and Harvard's David Greeley rounded out the top three. Jones' time was an improvement on his season best, but still a second and a half off his personal best.
In the women's 100 breaststroke, Cal's Silje Slyngstadli held her top seed, touching in under a minute. Elle Scott finished second, just off her prelim time. Harvard's Aliana Marakovic prevented a Cal sweep, touching third and lowering her personal best.
The men's 100 breaststroke saw Cal's Yamato Okadome shine, lowering his personal best to 50.48. His teammates Luca Gissendaner, Zachary Tan, and Hank Rivers completed a Cal sweep of the top four. Denver's Kito Campbell also broke 53 seconds.
Cal's Mary-Ambre Moluh dominated the women's 100 backstroke, winning by over a second with a time of 50.61. Teagan O'Dell took second, just over an hour after winning the 400 IM. Minnesota's Ava Yablonski rounded out the top three.
In the men's 100 backstroke, Cal's Evan Petty cleared the field by over a second, posting a time of 44.83. His teammate, Casper Puggaard, logged a lifetime best of 46.00. Harvard's Adriano Arioti out-dueled Minnesota's Davide Harabagiu for third.
The relays wrapped up the day, with Cal's women taking the win in the 800 free relay. Harvard's men emerged victorious in the men's 800 free relay, with Cal scratching from the event.
And that's a wrap for day 2 of the 2025 Minnesota Invite! The Cal Bears continue to impress, but Harvard and Minnesota are putting up a good fight. Stay tuned for more exciting swimming action!
