Courtesy: University of Arizona
LONG BEACH, Calif. - After winning every Pac-10 women's swimming title since the inception of the Championships in 1987, Stanford University's streak came to end today as the Arizona Wildcats captured their first-ever title at the 2000 Pac-10 Women's Championships at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool. On the strength of three individual crowns Arizona tallyed 1,325 points for the win, while after winning 13-consecutive conference championships, Stanford finished second with 1,197 points. California finished third (1,182 points), followed by UCLA (1,043 points) and USC was fifth (975.5 points).

To say that I'm proud of these women is an understatement, Arizona head coach Frank Busch said. This was great day and hopefully we can keep the momentum going all the way to Indianapolis for the NCAAs.

The first individual title came from freshman Beth Botsford, the American record-holder in the 200-meter backstroke, who proved that she is among the nation's elite by winning the 200-yard backsroke in a time of 1:54.45. Senior and 15-time All-America Denali Knapp finished fifth in the same race (1:58.46), while senior Rachel Joseph claimed sixth (1:58.64).

In the 200-yard breaststroke freshman Amanda Beard claimed her first Pac-10 title by coming from behind in the final 50 yards to overtake California's Staciana Stitts for the win. Beard's time of 2:10.41 missed the Pac-10 record by less than nine-tenths of a second. Also scoring points in the 200-yard breaststroke was freshman Julie Manitt (seventh-place, 2:16.02).

The Wildcats had another strong all-around performance in the finals of the 200-yard butterfly as freshman Erin Vogt, swimming unshaved and unrested broke the Arizona school record in a time of 1:56.74. That time bettered senior Trina Jackson's 1998 mark off 1:56.87. Meanwhile, Jackson placed eighth in the same race in a time of 2:02.98. .

In the final event of the day, the 400-yard freestyle relay, the squad of sophomore Jenny Vanker, sophomore Sarah Tolar, Knapp and sophomore Emily Mastin finished third in a time of 3:19.19

The Cats also picked up valuable points in the grueling 1,650-yard freestyle, as Jackson finished second, in a time of 16:18.54 and sophomore Caroline Kilian placed fifth, in a season-best time of 16:34.81.

In the 100-yard freestyle Tolar led the way with a time of 49.71, good enough for fourth-place while Vanker finished seventh, in a time of 50.39.

Meanwhile, at the Pac-10 Women's and Men's Diving Championships being held simultaneously at the McDonald's Swim Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern California, one Wildcat earned his second title in as many days and another Cat won the first title of her career. After winning the 1-Meter Springboard title yesterday sophomore Ruben Vaca proved today that he is among the top divers in the nation as he was crowned Pac-10 champion in the 10-Meter Platform Competition. For the second time in as many days Vaca (461.75) outdistanced Marc Briggs of Arizona State (408.00) for the title. The diving points earned this weekend will be added to the team scores that are accumulated next weekend in Federal Way, Wash. at the 2000 Pac-10 Men's Swimming Championships.

Meanwhile on the women's side, junior, All-America Lindsay Berryman was crowned Pac-10 champion for the first time in her career after winning the 10-Meter platform. After finishing second in the 3-Meter Springboard yesterday, Berryman (434.40) led the platform competition today from the beginning and held on for the win over Stanford's McKenze Murphy (412.15).

Other finishers for the women included junior Adrian David (10-Meter Platform - seventh-place; 383.20), sophomore Sara Quijano (10-Meter Platform - 15th-place; 316.40), senior Andrea Glass (10-Meter Platform - 18th-place; 285.60) and freshman Jenn Hess (10-Meter - 24th place; 237.30) The only other finisher for the men was junior Arno Bergstrom (10-Meter Platform - fourth-place; 369.15 points)