Claire Curzan, Aurora Roghair Win Two Each; Stanford Women Dominate Cal in Final Dual Meet
The Stanford women’s team finished the 2022-23 season undefeated in dual meets after a comfortable win in Saturday afternoon’s home finale against chief rival California. The Cardinal defeated the Golden Bears 161-101 with freshman Claire Curzan and sophomore Aurora Roghair emerging as the standout performers with two individual wins each.
Curzan, a six-time medalist at last summer’s World Championships, made a rare appearance in the 200 butterfly and won the event in 1:54.42, a time just outside the national top-10, and fellow freshman Charlotte Hook placed second (1:57.25). Later on, Curzan topped the 100 fly in 51.08, teaming with Emma Wheal (52.62) for another Stanford 1-2, and the team of Curzan. Amy Tang, Wheal and Taylor Ruck dominated the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:15.58.
Roghair was the top swimmer of the meet in the longer freestyle races. She captured the 1000 free in 9:50.38, with Stanford fifth-year swimmer Morgan Tankersley second (9:57.08), and she held off teammate Kayla Wilson in the 500 free, 4:47.37 to 4:47.90. Wilson won big in the 200 free (1:45.51), while in the 50 free, Wheal took the win in 22.42 with Torri Huske second (22.63).
Stanford earned yet another 1-2 finish in the 100 free with Ruck winning (49.77) and Tang taking second (49.95). Allie Raab took the 200 breaststroke win in 2:14.39, and Huske dominated the 200 IM in 1:57.66.
Cal started off the day in impressive fashion when the team of Isabelle Stadden, Jade Neser, Mia Kragh and Mckenna Stone claimed a half-second win over a Curzan-and-Huske-led Stanford team in the 200 medley relay. Cal finished in 1:37.02, and the Bears ended up with a 1-2 finish in points after Stanford’s top group was disqualified for a false start. After that, Stadden posted impressive wins in both backstroke events, with times of 51.84 in the 100 back and 1:54.69 in the 200 back, while Neser topped the 100 breast in 1:01.16.
