2023 Big 12 Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2023 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, February 22 – Saturday, February 25, 2023
• Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center, Austin, TX
• Defending Champions:
  • Women: Texas (10x)
  • Men: Texas (26x)
• Championship Central
• Live Results
• Live Video
• Friday Prelims Recap
• Friday Finals Heat Sheet

The Big 12 Championships continue tonight with finals of the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, and 100 back, along with timed finals of the 200 free relay.

While the Longhorns should easily win both the men’s and women’s team competition, there’s a race for second shaping up on the women’s side, where Texas Christian and Iowa State were only separated by 9 points heading into today.

Also be sure to keep on the B-finals tonight. Many of the Texas swimmers are entered as exhibition swimmers, and therefore ineligible for the A-final. This holds true even if an exhibition swimmer had the top prelims time of the morning. Case in point – Longhorn Alec Filipovic paced the 100 fly prelims with a 46.75, but he’ll actually be in lane 2 in the B-final tonight.

WOMEN’S TEAM SCORES – THRU DAY 2

1. Texas – 386
2. TCU – 202
3. Iowa State – 193
4. West Virginia – 179
5. Kansas – 152

MEN’S TEAM SCORES – THRU DAY 2

1. Texas – 471
2. TCU – 320
3. West Virginia – 179

Women’s 100 Butterfly – Finals

• NCAA Record: 48.84, Kate Douglass – 2023 ACC Championships
• Big 12 Record: 49.79, Emma Sticklen (TEX) – 2023 Texas vs. NC State
• Big 12 Championship Record: 50.77, Emma Sticklen (TEX) – 2022
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 50.92
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 52.35

Podium:

1. Olivia Bray (Texas) – 50.07
2. Ava Longi (Texas) – 52.01
3. Dakota Luther (Texas) – 52.56
4. Autumn Looney (Kansas) – 53.55
5. Jeanne Dahem (TCU) – 53.84
6. Trinity Kay (Iowa State) – 54.29
7. Grace Cooper (Texas) – 54.38
8. Lezli Sisung (Kansas) – 54.87

Longhorn Olivia Bray stormed to the victory tonight with a 50.07 that moves her up to #8 in the nation. That’s her first personal best in the event since 2019, when she went 50.19 to break the 17-18 age group National Age Group record.

Fellow Longhorns Ava Longi (52.01) and Dakota Luther (52.56) rounded out the top three. That’s a new best for Longi, whose previous best a 52.84 from just a few weeks ago. Her time ties for 31st this season, pending other results from tonight. Kansas’ Autumn Looney also cleared the NCAA ‘B’ cut with a 53.55.

Men’s 100 Butterfly – Finals

• NCAA Record: 42.80, Caeleb Dressel (FLOR) – 2018 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Record: 43.75, Joseph Schooling (TEX) – 2017 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Championship Record: 44.06, Joseph Schooling (TEX) – 2017
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.82
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 45.57

Podium:

1. Sam Artmann (Texas) – 46.18
2. Cole Crane (Texas) – 46.59
3. David Snider (WVU) – 47.46
4. Piotr Sadłowski (TCU) – 47.55
5. Braden Osborn (WVU) – 48.71
6. Parker Hughes (TCU) – 49.03
7. Grant Klatt (TCU) – 49.60
8. Jake Young (WVU) – 49.61

A total of five Texas men got under the 47.0 mark, including three in the B-final.

Sam Artmann and Cole Crane led the way in the A-final, posting times of 46.18 and 46.59 respectively. That’s a new personal best by 0.02s for Artmann, improving on his previous best of 46.20 from December. Crane’s best of 45.61 also came from the 2022 Minnesota Invite. Crane has comfortably secured a NCAA invite in the 200 fly, while Artmann is ranked roughly 23rd — probably safe, but definitely not guaranteed – in the same event thanks to a 1:42.67 time trial Wednesday.

In the B-final, non-scoring swimmers Alec Filipovic (46.63), Ryan Branon (46.84) and Holden Smith (46.91) all broke the 47-second barrier as well. Filipovic and Brandon hit PRs, while Smith was just 0.07s shy of his.

In the A-final, West Virginia’s David Snider clocked a personal best of 47.46 to touch just ahead of TCU’s Piotr Sadłowski (47.55).

Women’s 400 IM – Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:54.60, Ella Eastin (STAN) – 2018 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Record: 4:00.97, Madisyn Cox (TEX) – 2017 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Championship Record: 4:01.15, Madisyn Cox (TEX) – 2017
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:03.62
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 4:11.60

Podium:

1. Kelly Pash (Texas) – 4:05.55
2. Abby Pfeifer (Texas) – 4:15.07
3. Lucia Rizzo (Iowa State) – 4:17.37
4. Morgan Burton (WVU) – 4:21.35
5. Hailey Farrell (Kansas) – 4:21.66
6. Jordan Edwards (TCU) – 4:21.69
7. Sydney Jackson (Iowa State) – 4:22.97
8. Aidan Howze (Kansas) – 4:26.47

Texas’ Kelly Pash continued to flash her versatility, winning the 400 IM tonight by nearly ten seconds. Her time of 4:05.55 wasn’t far off her personal best of 4:04.93, which she clocked at this meet two years ago. That times also moves her into 9th in the nation this season.

Teammate Abby Pfeifer threw down a big personal best to take 2nd in 4:15.07. Heading into today, her previous best time was a 4:23.18 from last year’s conference meet, then she went 4:19.25 in prelims. With the ultimate outcome of the meet well in hand, and plenty of Texas swimmers safely qualified for NCAAs, many Longhorn women are swimming “off” events this week.

Lucia Rizzo of Iowa State also hit a personal best to take 3rd overall. Her time of 4:17.37 tonight clipped her previous best of 4:17.46 from the 2021 Big 12 Championships.

Men’s 400 IM – Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:31.84, Leon Marchand (ASU) – 2023 ASU vs Cal
• Big 12 Record: 3:33.79, Carson Foster (TEX) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Championship Record: 3:37.72, Carson Foster (TEX) – 2022
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:39.16
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 3:43.50

Podium:

1. Carson Foster (Texas) – 3:35.49
2. David Johnston (Texas) – 3:40.03
3. Jake Foster (Texas) – 3:42.85
4. Geremia Freri (TCU) – 3:46.14
5. Danny Berlitz (WVU) – 3:46.88
6. Kornel Kohalmi (TCU) – 3:51.76
7. Tristan McFarland (TCU) – 3:54.50

It’s been a fairly quiet meet on the men’s side, but Texas junior Carson Foster uncorked a 3:35.49 in the 400 IM tonight to get the pool moving. That jumps him ahead of Texas A&M’s Baylor Nelson for the #2 time in the nation this season, behind only Leon Marchand’s record-breaking 3:31.84 from the ASU vs. Cal dual meet.

Foster’s swim tonight looks to be the 3rd-fastest of his career and the 11th-fastest performance ever, and is actually a bit faster than his time in the A-final at last year’s NCAAs.

Teammate David Johnston punched a 3:40.03 for 2nd, coming close to going under 3:40 for the third time in his career. Jake Foster took 3rd in 3:42.85. All three Longhorns were safely qualified for NCAAs before this week, so look for them to go faster at NCAAs — all three made the A-final last year.

Behind the Longhorn trio, Geremia Freri of Texas Christian held off Danny Berlitz of West Virginia down the stretch, taking 4th in 3:46.14 to Berlitz’s 3:46.88. Both men have been faster, with Berlitz having gone a NCAA-qualifying 3:41.45 while swimming for Michigan two years ago.

Women’s 200 Freestyle – Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:39.10, Missy Franklin (CAL) – 2015 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Record: 1:42.38, Kelly Pash (TEX) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Championship Record: 1:42.70, Kelly Pash (TEX) – 2021
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:42.84
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 1:45.42

Podium:

1. Kyla Leibel (Texas) – 1:45.80
2. Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 1:46.69
3. Olivia McMurray (Texas) – 1:47.70
4. Emma Hultquist (TCU) – 1:47.88
5. Abby Reardon (WVU) – 1:49.06
6. Gabriela De La Torre (WVU) – 1:49.19
7. Serena Gould (TCU) – 1:49.31
8. Ellie Wehrman (Kansas) – 1:49.66

The Longhorn women swept the top three spots for the second time this evening. Kyla Leibel led the way with a 1:45.80, about a second of of her season-best time of 1:44.75 from the Minnesota Invite. Emma Sticklen clocked a new personal best time of 1:46.69 to take 2nd, while Olivia McMurray just missed erasing a five year-old PB of 1:47.35 while finishing 3rd in 1:47.70.

Emma Hultquist of Texas Christian got under 1:48 for the first time tonight to finish 4th in 1:47.88, the only non-Longhorn to go under 1:49.

Men’s 200 Freestyle – Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:29.15, Dean Farris (HARV) – 2019 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Record: 1:29.50, Townley Haas (TEX) – 2018 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Championship Record: 1:32.01, Ricky Berens (TEX) – 2009
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:31.98
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 1:33.08

Podium:

1. Peter Larson (Texas) – 1:32.95
2. Coby Carrozza (Texas) – 1:33.14
3. Luke Hobson (Texas) – 1:33.17
4. Milan Fabian (TCU) – 1:35.24
5. Roanoke Shirk (WVU) – 1:35.82
6. Luke Dimiceli (TCU) – 1:36.84
7. Max Nielsen (WVU) – 1:37.99

Texas senior Peter Larson went out fast and hung to win, going under 1:33 for the second time in three days with a winning mark of 1:32.95. Coby Carrozza was nearly three-tenths of a second ahead of Luke Hobson at the halfway point, but Hobson pulled slightly ahead with a 23.72 third lap before Carrozza fought back on the final lap. Carrozza touched in 1:33.14 for 2nd, followed by Hobson at 1:33.17. All three men have already been under 1:33 this season.

In the B-final, Longhorns Jackson Huckabay and Kobe Ndebele each hit lifetime bests, stopping the clock at 1:34.38 and 1:34.48.

Texas Christian’s Milan Fabian took 4th in the A-final with a lifetime best of 1:35.24, his first swim under 1:36.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Finals

• NCAA Record: 55.73, Lilly King (IU) – 2019 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Record: 56.88, Anna Elendt (TEX) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Championship Record: 57.35, Anna Elendt (TEX) – 2022
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 58.10
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 59.87

Podium:

1. Lydia Jacoby (Texas) – 57.29
2. Anna Elendt (Texas) – 57.59
3. Channing Hanley (Texas) – 1:00.48
4. Mia Cheatwood (WVU) – 1:00.60
5. Lindsey Hosch (Texas) – 1:01.15
6. Gabrielle LePine (Iowa State) – 1:01.28
7. Claire Chahbandour (TCU) – 1:01.29
8. Paige Hanley (Iowa State) – 1:02.72

18 year-old Lydia Jacoby cracked her own National Age Group record with a 52.29 here tonight. That lowered her previous record of 57.45, and also took down the meet record of 57.35 which Longhorn Anna Elendt set last year.

Elendt finished 2nd in 57.59 tonight, meaning that Jacoby and Elendt are still ranked #3 and #4 in the nation this season.

They are the only two women to break a minute tonight, with another Longhorn, sophomore Channing Hanley, taking 3rd in 1:00.48.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Finals

• NCAA Record: 49.69, Ian Finnerty (IU) – 2018 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Record: 50.49, Caspar Corbeau (TEX) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Championship Record: 50.96, Caspar Corbeau (TEX) – 2022
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 51.40
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 52.20

Podium:

1. Will Chan (Texas) – 51.65
2. Jadon Wuilliez (TCU) – 51.70
3. Caspar Corbeau (Texas) – 51.71
4. Joe Schaefer (WVU) – 53.71
5. Paul DeGrado (Texas) – 53.72
6. Raphael Paiva Da (TCU) – 53.96
7. Janis Sillies (TCU) – 54.03
8. Adam McDonald (WVU) – 54.62

This may have been the race of the night on the men’s side, as three men battle it out for 1st, and another set of three for 3rd.

Texas grad transfer Will Chan took it out fast, hitting the 50 mark at 23.96, and he hung on to win in 51.65. TCU’s Jadon Wuillez nearly passed Chan on the third 25, but couldn’t quite get his hands on the wall first, taking 2nd in 51.70, followed by Longhorn Caspar Corbeau at 51.71. Chan and Wuillez essentially guaranteed their NCAA invites with those swims, while Corbeau was 7th in the nation heading into today with a 51.30 from earlier this season.

The top three men were two seconds ahead of the rest of the field, but there another great battle for 4th place. TCU’s Raphael Paiva Da and Janis Silins went out in 24.90 and 25.06, respectively. But WVU’s Joe Schaefer and Texas’ Paul DeGrado, who stayed within 0.05s of each other the entire race, passed the Horned Frogs duo on the back half.

Of that group, Schaefer hit the wall first to take 4th in 53.71, followed by DeGrado at 53.72, then Paiva Da (53.96), and Silins (54.03). WVU freshman Adam McDonald took 8th in 54.62.

Women’s 100 Backstroke – Finals

• NCAA Record: 48.74, Katharine Berkoff (NCSU) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Record: 50.51, Claire Adams (TEX) – 2020 Big 12 Championships
• Big 12 Championship Record: 50.51, Claire Adams (TEX) – 2020
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 50.89
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 52.46

Podium:

1. Jacqueline McCutchan (WVU) – 54.14
2. Lezli Sisung (Kansas) – 54.23
3. Meghan DiMartil (Texas) – 54.36
4. Sophia Gouschina (Iowa State) – 54.42
5. Liz Richardson (Iowa State) – 54.44
6. Dewi Bluse (Kansas) – 54.67
7. Trinity Kay (Iowa State) – 54.83
8. Rylee Moore (TCU) – 54.92

The Mountaineers picked up a win as Jacqueline McCutchan had the fastest second 50 in the field to win in 54.14. Lezli Sisung of Kansas and Meghan DiMarti both went out in under 26, but couldn’t match McCutchan’s sub-28 on the back half. Sisung took 2nd in 54.23, followed by DiMartil at 54.36.

Sophia Gouschina also split under 28 on the second 50 to take 45th in 54.42, just a hair of ahead of Iowa State teammate Liz Richardson (54.44).

Men’s 100 Backstroke – Finals

• NCAA Record: 43.35, Luca Urlando (UGA) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Record: 44.35, John Shebat (TEX) – 2017 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Championship Record: 44.95, Alvin Jiang (TEX) – 2020
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.79
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 45.87

Podium:

1. Ethan Harder (Texas) – 46.39
2. Charlie Crosby (Texas) – 46.97
3. Edgar Cicanci (TCU) – 47.16
4. Justin Heimes (WVU) – 47.24
5. Elliott Jones (TCU) – 47.98
6. Jamin Harlan (WVU) – 49.23
7. Parker Hughes (TCU) – 49.50
8. Maverick Bray (WVU) – 50.12

A pair of freshmen were the first to flip at the 25 yard wall, but Texas senior Ethan Harder was faster over the final 75 yards, and handily earned the win with a 46.39. Despite the win, Harder is in danger of not qualifying for NCAAs. He’s been fast enough to qualify each of the last three years, but Texas’ depth led to him being a victim of roster caps.

Longhorn freshman Charlie Crosby took 2nd in 46.97, a little over half a second shy of his lifetime best from the Minnesota high school championships last year. Another freshman, Italian national Edgar Cicanci of Texas Christian, took 3rd in 47.16, followed by West Virginia’s Justin Heimes at 47.24. Both Cinanci and Heimes hit lifetime bests.

Women’s 200 Free Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:24.47, Virginia – 2022 ACC Championships
• Big 12 Record:1:26.84, Texas – 2018 Texas Hall of Fame Invite
• Big 12 Championship Record: 1:27.97, Texas – 2021
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:28.43

Podium:

1. Texas – 1:28.30
2. West Virginia – 1:30.94
3. Texas Christian – 1:31.45
4. Iowa State – 1:32.12
5. Kansas – 1:32.69

The Longhorn quartet of Kelly Pash (22.27), Emma Sticklen (22.30), Grace Cooper (21.89), and Ava Longi (21.84) combined for a winning time of 1:28.30, under the NCAA ‘A’ cut. That’s a little over a second slower than Texas’ best time this season, a 1:27.05 from the dual meet against NC State.

The Texas ‘B’ team got a 21.87 split from Kyla Leibel en route to a 1:29.07, the 2nd-fastest time of the night, although it didn’t count towards the team scores. Texas Christian led West Virginia for the first 150 yards, but the Mountaineers’ freshman Ada Szwabinska split 22.23 on the anchor leg as WVU touched in 1:30.94 to TCU’s 1:31.45.

Men’s 200 Free Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:14.08, Auburn – 2009 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Record: 1:14.41, Texas – 2022 NCAA Championships
• Big 12 Championship Record: 1:15.76, Texas – 2021
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:16.80

Podium:

1. Texas – 1:16.88
2. West Virginia – 1:18.83
3. Texas Christian – 1:19.49

The Longhorn men went with an all-senior relay that provided them with their best time of the season. Daniel Krueger led off in 19.60, Peter Larson nearly got under 19 with a 19.01 split, Will Chan split 19.18, and Caspar Corbeau anchored in 19.09, good for 1:16.88 overall, the #14 time in the nation pending other results from tonight.

As we mentioned last night, the Longhorns don’t have anyone who’s been faster than 19.4 this season on a flat start, so we’re probably not going to see them go under 1:15 at NCAAs, although they should still be able to drop a significant amount of time from tonight’s swim.

WVU took 2nd in 1:18.83, thanks to a pair of 19.4 splits from Danny Berlitz and Conner McBeth, while TCU finished 3rd in 1:19.49.