Golden Nuggets: Cal Women's Swimming and Men's Track Win Conference Championships

After a costly disqualification in the 200 free relay on Thursday, the Bears' Pac-12 title hopes suffered a serious blow. Strong performances on Friday and Saturday propelled the Bears to its third Pac-12 title.

With a dominating performance on Saturday, California captured the Pac-12 Women's Swimming & Diving Championship. Freshman Missy Franklin, who set three meet records in winning three individual events and was a member of three victorious relays, was named the Pac-12 Swimmer of the Meet.

On Saturday, the Bears added three event titles to their list for the week. Franklin won the 100 freestyle, Elizabeth Pelton captured the 200 backstroke, and Cal claimed the final event - the 400-yard free relay - with Franklin on the anchor leg.

Cal finished with 1552.5 points. Stanford was second with 1364 and USC third with 1327.

Meanwhile in Seattle men's track and field earned its first conference title since 1992-93, before many members of the team were born.

"The staff and I are so impressed with the competitiveness that the team displayed throughout both days,” Director of track & field Tony Sandoval said on Saturday. “We were truly inspired. Everyone brought their "A" game to the MPSF Championships.”

Cal’s men won the team competition with 96 points, edging Arizona State by three and claiming their first team title in the MPSF Championships since the 1992-93 season. The Cal women finished tied for seventh with 38 points, improving on last season’s performance, in which they placed eighth.

“The turning point for us was Locklear's upset victory in the mile,” Sandoval added. “It symbolized that anything is possible. Everyone was closely watching the scoring after that. The drama in the mile relay was classic as Jordan anchored the team to seventh place and gave us a two-point cushion in the event."

Tennis

• Rain forced the cancellation of the men's team's match against UNLV on Thursday and again on Friday. The doubles team of Filip Bergevi and Mads Engsted won two matches on Saturday to advance to the round of 32.

Track and Field

• The Bears opened the MPSF Championships with three individual titles.

Gymnastics

• The tenth-ranked men's team finished third at the Collegiate Cup.

Lacrosse

• A late 7-2 run was not enough to finish the rally as Cal lost 11-14 to San Diego State.

Baseball

Swimming and Diving

• The top-ranked Bears started strongly at the Pac-12 Championships on Wednesday. Despite several strong performances on Thursday, a disqualification in the 200 free relay jeopardized the Bears' chances of a Pac-12 title and dropped Cal to third. The Bears regained the lead on Friday.

Rugby

• The no. 2 Bears cruised to an easy victory over no. 11 ASU on Friday night. The 76-18 victory moved the Bears into a tie with Utah atop the Pac-12 standings. I still don't understand how the Bears are only ranked 2nd.

Basketball

• Despite Reshanda Gray's 32 first-half points, the 18th-ranked Bears needed an overtime to defeat Washington State.
• Cal battled UW on Saturday but could not deliver a win on Senior Day. UW prevailed 70-66.
• Kameron Rooks' left foot injury will end his season.
• The men's team is slumping again at the wrong time of the season. With a chance to climb to third in the Pac-12, the Bears lost 60-78 to ASU.