2017 Big 12 Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap — Schooling Blasts 44.06

2017 BIG 12 SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, February 22 – Saturday, February 25
• Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center- University of Texas
• Prelims 10 AM/ Finals 6 PM (Central Time)
• Defending Champs: Texas (20x) (results)
• Championship Central
• Live Results

The 3rd night of finals at the 2017 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships in Austin, Texas kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. Central Time. This session’s action includes the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 200 free relay, and 3-meter diving.

One of the big races to watch is the men’s 100 fly, where Texas All-Americans Joseph Schooling and Jack Conger will go head-to-head. Texas’ Will Licon and Madisyn Cox are the swimmers to watch in the 400 IM, as they both chase the Meet Record. The Longhorns’ Clark Smith and Townley Haas will headline the 200 free field. In the women’s 100 back, Texas teammates Tasija Karosas and Claire Adams will race for gold.

WOMEN’S 3-METER DIVING

1. Meghan O’Brien, Texas, 383.00
2. Julia Calcutt, West Virginia, 328.45
3. Alison Gibson, Texas, 311.70

Longhorn Meghan O’Brien earned her second victory of the meet on the boards, after finishing 1st in the 1m competition.  Julia Calcutt of West Virginia jumped up from 6th in the 1m to take 2nd place this evening.  Calcutt was sandwiched between two Longhorns, as Alison Gibson earned 3rd place, for a second podium finish after a 2nd place spot in the 1m.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 51.49
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 54.49
• Big 12 Record: Triin Aljand (2008)- 51.32
• Conference Meet Record: Lily Moldenhauer (2014)- 51.92

1. Lauren Case, Texas, 52.03
2. Remedy Rule, Texas, 52.05
3. Brynne Wong, Texas, 53.89

The Longhorns swept the top three spots in the opening race of the evening, but the first event wasn’t without drama.  Both Lauren Case and Remedy Rule came with two-tenths of the conference meet record, but it was Case who touched first after both swimmers were tied at the halfway point.  Brynne Wong finished 3rd, almost two seconds behind the leaders.

MEN’S 100 FLY

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 45.73
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 46.44
• Big 12 Record: Joseph Schooling (2016)- 44.01
• Conference Meet Record: Joseph Schooling (2016)- 44.62

1. Joseph Schooling, Texas, 44.06
2. Jack Conger, Texas, 44.56
3. Brett Ringgold, Texas, 46.32

Once again, a Longhorn podium sweep.  Joe Schooling came within 0.05 seconds of his best time, a 44.01 from last year’s NCAA’s that was, at that point, the fastest time ever recorded in yards.  Former Cal Bear Tom Shields become the first man under 44 with a 43.84 last December, but you have to assume that Schooling will be faster next month, and Shields’ record may be relatively short-lived.  Schooling’s time tonight broke his own conference meet record, a 44.62 from last year’s meet.

Finishing 2nd tonight behind Schooling was teammate and butterfly training partner Jack Conger, who took 2nd in 44.56.  That gives Conger the 3rd-fastest time in NCAA Division I this season, behind only Schooling and Florida’s Caeleb Dressel.  Those three men finished in that order at last year’s NCAA championships in this event, and right now they collectively look like a good bet to repeat as medal-winners.

Touching third for Texas was Brett Ringgold with a 46.32.

WOMEN’S 400 IM

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 4:05.36
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 4:19.39
• Big 12 Record: Kathleen Hersey (2009)- 4:01.91
• Conference Meet Record: Madisyn Cox (2016)- 4:04.67

1.  Madisyn Cox, Texas, 4:01.15
2. Maggie D’Innocenzo, Texas, 4:14.28
3. Madison Straight, Kansas, 4:17.81

Longhorn Madisyn Cox lowered her own meet record by a convincing margin, and set a new Big 12 as well, easily touching first in 4:01.91.  While Schooling’s swim a few minutes earlier had jaws dropping, Cox’s 400 IM was remarkable in its own way, as she finished over 13 seconds ahead of the second place finisher, fellow Longhorn Maggie D’Innocenzo.  As of the moment, that appears to make Cox the 3rd-fastest swimmer in this event in Division I this season, behind only a pair of Stanford swimmers, Ella Eastin and Katie Ledecky.  Last year, Cox won the B-final in this event at NCAA’s with a 4:05.78, but tonight’s time would have placed her 2nd  overall, behind only Eastin.

Rounding out the top three and the first name alliteration was Madison Straight of Kansas.  She became the first non-Texas swimmer with a top three finish this evening after touching 3rd in 4:17.81

MEN’S 400 IM

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 3:40.76
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 3:54.49
• Big 12 Record: Will Licon (2015)- 3:36.37
• Conference Meet Record: Jonathan Roberts (2016)- 3:41.54

1. Jonathan Roberts, Texas, 3:40.26
2. Will Licon, Texas, 3:43.85
3. Sam Stewart, Texas, 3:44.49

Jonathan Roberts lowered his own meet record in this event, swimming a 3:40.26 that was almost a second faster than his time from this meet last year.  That time bumps Roberts up from 6th to 5th in Division I this year, not taking into account any swims from other meets tonight.  It’s worth noting that Roberts was an Olympic Trials finalist this past summer in the 200 free, but seems to be focusing on the 400 IM in NCAA competition this year.

Finishing 2nd to Roberts tonight was the 2015 NCAA champion and 2016 runner up in this event, Will Licon, with a time of 3:43.85.  He almost certainly has something more in the tank, owning a lifetime best of 3:36.37, but there’s been a ton of speculation that he’ll eschew this event for the 100 breast at NCAA’s, especially after his 51.15 Wednesday afternoon.

Auburn transfer Sam Stewart most likely punched his ticket to the NCAA championships with his 3:44.49, good for 3rd place.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:43.63
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 1:47.99
• Big 12 Record: Karlee Bispo (2012)- 1:42.78
• Conference Meet Record: Karlee Bispo (2011) 1:43.43

1.  Joanna Evans, Texas, 1:44.41
2. Quinn Carrozza, Texas, 1:46.11
3. Nora McCullah, Texas, 1:47.11

The Longhorns once again swept the podium.  Quinn Carrozza led after the first 50, flipping in 24.54, but teammate Joanna Evans was right behind her, at 24.70.  Evans held 26’s the rest of the way, ultimately touching in 1:44.41.  Carrozza finished 2nd in 1:46.11, while Nora McCullaugh rounded out the top three with a 1:47.11.

MEN’S 200 FREE

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:32.97
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 1:37.99
• Big 12 Record: Townley Haas (2016)- 1:30.46
• Conference Meet Record: Ricky Berens (2009)- 1:32.01

1. Townley Haas, Texas, 1:32.17
2. Jeff Newkirk, Texas, 1:34.02
3. Clark Smith, Texas, 1:34.22

Defending NCAA champion and US Open record holder Townley Haas easily won this event tonight with a 1:32.17.  It’s a bit messy this time of year, as not all conferences report results promptly.  However, that appears to be the 3rd-fastest time in the NCAA this season, behind Blake Pieroni’s 1:31.83 leadoff leg on Indiana’s 800 free relay Wednesday night of Indiana threw down a 1:32.13 earlier this evening and Harvard’s Dean Farris 1:31.56 tonight.  Add in Florida freshman Maxime Rooney’s 1:32.17 from last week’s SEC championships, and it’s shaping to be a great battle next month in Indianapolis.

Fellow Longhorn Jeff Newkirk finished 2nd with a 1:34.02.  Newkirk looked primed for a great week after a 1:32 split on Texas’s winning 800 free relay Wednesday, and indeed, between last night’s 500 and tonight’s 200, he should have  his first NCAA invite.  Just behind Newkirk was the 2015 NCAA champion in the 500 free, and 2016 Rio Olympian, Clark Smith, who touched 3rd in 1:34.22.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 59.04
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 1:02.49
• Big 12 Record: Breeja Larson (2012)- 57.51
• Conference Meet Record: Breeja Larson (2012)- 57.92

1. Jordan Surhoff, Texas, 1:00.89
2. Olivia Anderson, Texas, 1:01.66
3. Haley Downey, Kansas, 1:02.09

Jordan Surhoff led from wire-to-wire en route to a conference championship.  She was the only woman out in under 13 seconds, touching in 12.94 at the first wall, and continued to build her lead, winning by a comfortable 0.77 second margin over teammate Olivia Anderson.  Haley Downey of Kansas rounded out the top three by lowering her personal best time from this morning even further, for a new PB of 1:02.09.

MEN’S 100 BREAST

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 51.93
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 55.39
• Big 12 Record: Will Licon (2017)- 51.17
• Conference Meet Record: Will Licon (2017)- 51.17

1. Jake Armstrong, West Virginia, 53.09
2. Casey Melzer, Texas, 53.67
3. Austin Temple, 53.98

The podium in this event was a relatively rare sight, as someone other than a Longhorn stood atop it.  West Virginia’s Jake Armstrong dropped 0.62 off his lifetime best from this morning, and 1.44 seconds from his best time before today, to touch in 53.09.  He becomes the first non-Longhorn man to finish in the top three of an individual event this meet, much less win.

Texas did occupy the next two spots on the podium.  2nd place went to Casey Melzer, who also swam a personal best, a 53.67.  Finishing 3rd was 2015 NCAA qualifier Austin Temple, with a 53.97.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 51.45
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 55.09
• Big 12 Record: Tasija Karosas (2016)- 51.40
• Conference Meet Record: Tasija Karosas (2016)- 51.40

1. Tasija Karosas, Texas, 50.96
2. Claire Adams, Texas, 51.19
3. Kaitlin Hardy, Texas, 54.07

The Longhorn women have been looking great all season, and they keep rolling tonight.  In the 100 back, two Texas swimmers finished under the exiting meet and conference records.  Tasija Karosas touched first, lowering her own conference record to 50.96.  Karosas finished 10th overall in this event at the 2015 NCAA championships, but DFS’d last year.  Her time from this evening should earn her a spot in the A-final next month if she come close to matching it.  Just behind her tonight was freshman Claire Adams, who went 51.19, two-tenths of a second under Karosas’s previous record.  Another freshman, Kaitlin Hardy, earned a third place finish with a 54.07.

MEN’S 100 BACK

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 45.37
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 48.49
• Big 12 Record: Neil Walker (1997)- 44.92
• Conference Meet Record: Andrew Marsh (2016)- 45.41

1. John Shebat, Texas, 45.72
2. Josh Artmann, Texas, 47.37
3. Merwane Elmerini, West Virginia, 47.70

An Olympic Trials finalist in this event last year, John Shebat went 21.57 to his feet on the opening 50 of this race, almost a second and a half faster than anyone else in the field, and took win in 45.72.  Finishing 2nd was another Longhorn, Josh Artmann, who touched in 47.37.  West Virginia’s Merwane Elmerini had been just ahead of Artmann at the 50 mark, but ultimately finished 3rd in 47.70.

MEN’S 3-METER DIVING

1. Grayson Campbell, Texas, 451.85
2. Mark Anderson, Texas, 401.75
3. Logan McHenry, West Virginia, 357.50

Texas freshman Grayson Campbell earned his first victory of the meet tonight, after finishing 6th in the 1m on Wednesday.  Mark Anderson, the 1m champion, took 2nd to Anderson tonight.  West Virginia’s Logan McHenry moved up one spot from Wednesday to capture 3rd.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE RELAY

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:28.98
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 1:29.75
• Big 12 Conference Record: Texas (2012)- 1:27.65
• Big 12 Meet Record: Texas (2011)- 1:28.15

1. Texas (Rebecca Millard, Claire Adams, Remedy Rule, Anelise Diener), 1:28.04
2. Iowa State (Laura Miksch, Savanna Townsend, Harper Emswiler, Maddie Rastall), 1:30.85
3. Kansas (Haley Bishop, Yulduz Kuchkarova, Ria Pavlic, Carly Straight), 1:31.54

Rebecca Millard led off with a 21.96, about a tenth faster than her winning time in the individual 50 Thursday night.  The next three Longhorns — Claire Adams, Remedy Rule, Anelise Diener — were a model of precision, each splitting within 0.08s of each other with splits that ranged from 21.98 to 22.06.  Ultimately, the Texas woman finished in 1:28.04, a new meet record.

Iowa State came in 2nd, helped by a pair of 22.65 splits by Harper Emswiler and Maddie Rastall, to touch in 1:30.85.  Kansas finished 3rd with a time of 1:31.54, led by Yulduz Kuchkarova‘s 22.60 split on the second leg.

MEN’S 200 FREE RELAY

• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:17.77
• NCAA ‘B’ cut: 1:18.46
• Big 12 Conference Record: Texas (2016)- 1:14.88
• Big 12 Meet Record: Texas (2009)- 1:16.89

1. Texas (Tate Jackson, John Shebat, Brett Ringgold, Townley Haas), 1:17.10
2. West Virginia (Merwane Elmerini, Drew Damich, Sam Neaveill, Jake Armstrong), 1:20.39

The Longhorns left a couple of their big guns off this relay, but still won by a comfortable margin.  Neither of the top two finishers in Thursday’s 50 free final, Joseph Schooling and Jack Conger made an appearance here.  Instead, Texas led off with Tate Jackson‘s 19.59, then transitioned to John Shebat (19.45) and Brett Ringgold (18.90), and anchored with Townley Haas (19.16) en route to a 1:17.10.  That time would have been enough make it into the A-final of last year’s NCAA’s championships, meaning that if Eddie Reese wants to play around with his relay lineups a little bit in order to rest some swimmers, he probably has that flexibility.

With TCU drawing a DQ for an early take-off, West Virginia was the only other team to legally finish the relay.  Merwane Elmerini led off with a 19.73, and the following Mountaineers — Drew Damich (20.02), Sam Neaveill (20.13), Jake Armstrong (20.51) — opted for safe reaction times (in the 0.25 to 0.38 range) to ensure a 2nd place finish with a time of 1:20.39.