Shimizu captures 500 free on Day 1 of WSC Championships

Kelee Shimizu won the grueling 500 freestyle on Thursday and Kendra Carr set a school record in the 50 free on Day 1 of the WSC Women's Swimming & Diving Championships at Bakersfield College.

SBCC is seeking its fourth consecutive WSC title in the three-day meet. Only five events were contested on Thursday and the Vaqueros are in unfamiliar territory – fourth place in the 10-team field.

Cuesta leads the way with 183 points, followed by Bakersfield (154), Ventura (113) and SBCC (108).

Shimizu's 5:16.44 clocking in the 500 free is the No. 2 all-time mark for the Vaqueros. Carr swam 24.47 to finish second in the 50 free, just 0.09 behind the winner, Torie White of Cuesta. Carr moved into first on the Vaqueros' all-time chart, edging out Reese Ellestad's 24.52.

Daniela Garza was seventh in the 200 IM (2:29.14) and Anna Watkins took 12th.

The Vaqueros won the meet-opening 200 free relay in a time of 1:39.60, which ranks third on their all-time list. The team consisted of Carr, Meagan Mckillican, Shimizu and Sarah Parson.

In the last event of the day, the Vaqueros were disqualified in the 400 medley relay for the second straight year. They would have broken the school record by nearly four seconds if they hadn't been DQ'd and they missed out on 40 points.

"Everyone swam their best times and it was super encouraging," said coach Chuckie Roth. "Getting DQ'd in the 400 medley was a setback but we did the same thing last year and still won the conference.

"We'll have to buckle down and make up some points. The girls are resilient and tomorrow will be a big day for us."