2023 Big 12 Championships: Day 4 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 Finals Live Recap
• Saturday Prelims Live Recap

The 2023 Big 12 Championships wrap up Saturday with the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, and platform diving along with timed finals of the 1650 freestyle and 400 free relay.

Some of the exciting Texas teammate showdowns on tap for tonight are Anna Elendt vs. Lydia Jacoby in the 200 breast and Dakota Luther vs. Emma Sticklen in the 200 fly.

WOMEN’S 200 BACK – FINALS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:50.50
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:57.07
• Meet Record: 1:51.09 – Olivia Bray (Texas), 2022
• Big 12 Record: 1:49.91 – Tasija Karosas (Texas), 2017
• 2022 Champion: Olivia Bray (Texas) – 1:51.09

Top 8:

1. Olivia Bray (Texas) – 1:50.09
2. Dewi Blose (Kansas) – 1:57.79
3. Liz Richardson (Iowa State) – 1:57.97
4. Lezli Sisung (Kansas) – 1:59.35
5. Paige Dressel (West Virginia) – 1:59.59
6. Rylee Moore (TCU) – 2:00.02
7. Madi Dohrn (Iowa State) – 2:00.45
8. Emily Knorr (West Virginia) – 2:00.61

Texas junior Olivia Bray cruised to a seven-second victory in the 200 fly with a new lifetime best of 1:50.09, which also lowers her meet record from last year. That time is the second-fastest in the NCAA this season behind Stanford freshman Claire Curzan (1:48.50).

Now a two-time Big 12 champion in the event, Bray shaved nearly four-tenths of a second off her previous-best 1:50.46 from last month’s dual meet against NC State, where she first hit the NCAA ‘A’ cut. Her time is exactly a second faster than her winning mark from last year.

Kansas senior Dewi Blose (1:57.79) and Iowa State senior Liz Richardson (1:57,97) rounded out the podium just .18 seconds apart.

200 Back 🤘 | Big 12 Championships@oliviabray01 breaks her second meet record of the week and earns her second gold medal of the week! 🥇🤘 #HookEm pic.twitter.com/wPvbAjPo5q

— Texas Women's Swimming & Diving (@TexasWSD) February 26, 2023

MEN’S 200 BACK – FINALS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:39.13
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:44.82
• Meet Record: 1:38.61 – Ryan Harty (Texas), 2019
• Big 12 Record: 1:36.42 – John Shebat (Texas), 2019
• 2022 Champion: Carson Foster (Texas) – 1:39.42

Top 8:

1. Carson Foster (Texas) – 1:38.87
2. Ethan Harder (Texas) – 1:41.48
3. Justin Heimes (West Virginia) – 1:43.84
4. Edgar Cicanci (TCU) – 1:45.41
5. Charlie Crosby (Texas) – 1:46.01
6. Jamin Harlan (West Virginia) – 1:47.07
7. Parker Hughes (TCU) – 1:48.33
8. Maverick Bray (West Virginia) – 1:48.90

Texas junior Carson Foster scared the meet record as he completed his 200 back three-peat in a time of 1:38.87. It’s a season-best mark, just off his lifetime best sits of 1:38.00 from last year’s NCAAs.

Texas senior Ethan Harder added time to his personal-best 1:40.79 from prelims, but he still earned a runner-up finish in 1:41.48, two seconds clear of West Virginia junior Justin Heimes (1:43.84). Heimes shaved over a second off his previous-best 1:45.07 from prelims this morning.

200 back 🤘 | Big 12 Championships

It's three straight conference titles in the 200 back for Carson Foster as Texas goes 1-2 in the final! 🏆 #HookEm

🥇 @carson24foster – 1:38.87
🥈 Ethan Harder – 1:41.48
5. Charlie Crosby – 1:46.01 pic.twitter.com/qCJ4HCCcfZ

— Texas Men's Swimming & Diving (@TexasMSD) February 26, 2023

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 47.18
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 49.44
• Meet Record: 47.46 – Claire Adams (Texas), 2018
• Big 12 Record: 47.32 – Claire Adams (Texas), 2018
• 2022 Champion: Kelly Pash (Texas) – 48.42

Top 8:

1. Kelly Pash (Texas) – 47.68
2. Ava Longi (Texas) – 48.47
3. Kyla Leibel (Texas) – 48.79
4. Bridget Semenuk (Texas) – 48.89
5. Jacqueline McCutchan (West Virginia) – 49.27
6. Grace Cooper (Texas) – 49.68
7. Serena Gould (TCU) – 50.33
8. Ada Szwabinska (West Virginia) – 50.36

Texas senior Kelly Pash repeated as the 100 free champion in a time of 47.68, nearly a second faster than her winning tally from last year. She was just off her season-best mark of 47.35 from the Minnesota Invitational, which ranks eighth in the NCAA this season.

The Longhorns swept the top four spots here. Texas junior Ava Longi, senior Kyla Leibel, and senior Bridget Semenuk were the only other swimmers in the field sub-49 in the final.

100 free 🤘 | Big 12 Championships

Kelly Pash defends her crown Texas takes the top 4️⃣ spots on the podium! 🏆 #HookEm

🥇 @kelly_pash – 47.68
🥈 Ava Longi – 48.47
🥉 @KylaLeibel – 48.79
4. Bridget Semenuk – 48.89
6. @gracee_cooperr – 49.68 pic.twitter.com/CTxX3k6Pq1

— Texas Women's Swimming & Diving (@TexasWSD) February 26, 2023

MEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 41.64
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 43.59
• Meet Record: 41.26 – Daniel Krueger (Texas), 2020
• Big 12 Record: 41.26 – Daniel Krueger (Texas), 2020
• 2022 Champion: Daniel Krueger (Texas) – 41.49

Top 8:

1. Daniel Krueger (Texas) – 42.12
2. Peter Larson (Texas) – 42.61
3. Luke Hobson (Texas) – 42.62
4. Conner McBeth (West Virginia) – 43.34
5. Milan Fabian (TCU) – 43.61
6. Dusan Babic (TCU) – 44.26
7. Roanoke Shirk (West Virginia) – 44.77
8. Raphael Paiva (TCU) – 45.12

Make it five 100 free titles in a row for Texas fifth year Daniel Krueger, who added to his accolades with another win in 42.12. He couldn’t quite beat his winning time from last year or his Big 12 record from 2020, but he was still nearly half a second clear of the field.

The Longhorns swept the podium here courtesy of Peter Larson (42,61) and Luke Hobson (42.62), who finished just .01 seconds apart in a tight battle for second place.

100 free 🤘 | Big 12 Championships

Daniel Krueger makes history with his 5️⃣th Big 12 title and leads Texas to a sweep of the top 3️⃣! 🏆 #HookEm

🥇 Daniel Krueger – 42.12
🥈 Peter Larson – 42.61
🥉 @Lukehobs0n – 42.62 pic.twitter.com/jPybpsqDrx

— Texas Men's Swimming & Diving (@TexasMSD) February 26, 2023

WOMEN’S 1650 – TIMED FINALS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 15:52.41
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 16:30.59
• Meet Record: 15:56.51 – Evie Pfeifer (Texas), 2021
• Big 12 Record: 5:48.65 – Evie Pfeifer (Texas), 2021
• 2022 Champion: Erica Sullivan (Texas) – 15:58.74

Top 8:

1. Erica Sullivan (Texas) – 15:49.16
2. Abby Pfeifer (Texas) – 16:09.67
3. Olivia McMurray (Texas) – 16:19.62
4. Miranda Kirtley (West Virginia) – 16:43.28
5. Brinley Horras (Iowa State) – 16:44.99
6. Jordan Edwards (TCU) – 16:46.98
7. Corinne Guist (Iowa State) – 16:55.55
8. Maddy Rundell (Iowa State) – 16:56.96

Texas sophomore Erica Sullivan dominated the 1650 free with a season-best 15:49.16, demolishing Evie Pfeifer’s meet record from 2021 (15:56.51) in the process. Sullivan entered this week with a season-best time of 15:58.97, right around her winning mark from last year, and blew that away by almost 10 seconds.

Sullivan now ranks third in the NCAA this season behind Alabama’s Kensey McMahon (15:47.02) and Wisconsin’s Paige McKenna (15:46.90). At NCAAs last year, Sullivan went 15:45.94 en route to a runner-up finish.

Second-place finisher Abby Pfeifer of Texas reached the wall more than 20 seconds behind Sullivan in 16:09.67. Texas sophomore Olivia McMurray took third place in 16:19.62 to complete the Longhorns’ podium sweep.

1650 free 🤘 | Big 12 Championships

Erica Sullivan wins it and Texas finishes 1-2-3! 🏆 #HookEm

🥇 @erica_sully – 15:49.16
🥈 Abby Pfeifer – 16:09.67
🥉 Olivia McMurray – 16:19.62 pic.twitter.com/qMwsTqRp3V

— Texas Women's Swimming & Diving (@TexasWSD) February 26, 2023

MEN’S 1650 – TIMED FINALS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 14:37.31
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 15:26.19
• 2022 Champion: David Johnston (Texas) –  14:45.84

Top 8:

1. David Johnston (Texas) – 14:37.30
2. William Mullen (West Virginia) – 15:20.04
3. Tristan McFarland (TCU) – 15:47.98
4. Bryce Flynn (TCU) – 15:52.35
5. Geremia Freri (TCU) – 15:57.08

Texas junior David Johnston pulled off a three-peat in the 1650 with a time of 14:37.30, more than eight seconds faster than his winning time from last year. His lifetime best is a 14:32.40 from last year’s American Short Course Championships held a few weeks before the NCAA Championships, where he placed fifth with a 14:33.61.

West Virginia junior William Mullen placed second with a 15:20.04 while TCU’s Tristan McFarland rounded out the podium with a 15:47.98, reaching the wall more than a minute behind Johnston.

1650 free 🤘 | Big 12 Championships

David Johnston clinches his third consecutive Big 12 Conference title in the 1650 free! 🏆 #HookEm pic.twitter.com/7IxvNbRj4z

— Texas Men's Swimming & Diving (@TexasMSD) February 26, 2023

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – FINALS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 2:06.18
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 2:13.89
• Meet Record: 2:03.92 – Anna Elendt (Texas), 2022
• Big 12 Record: 2:03.92 – Anna Elendt (Texas), 2022
• 2022 Champion: Anna Elendt (Texas) – 2:03.92

Top 8:

1. Lydia Jacoby (Texas) – 2:04.32
2. Anna Elendt (Texas) – 2:05.50
3. Channing Hanley (Texas) – 2:09.32
4. Mia Cheatwood (West Virginia) – 2:10.41
5. Lidnsey Hosch (Texas) – 2:13.60
6. Claire Chahband (TCU) – 2:14.16
7. Molly Robinson (Kansas) – 2:17.64
8. Aidan Howze (Kansas) – 2:19.42

Texas freshman Lydia Jacoby once again outdueled junior teammate Anna Elendt for a Big 12 title while taking down her second 17-18 national age group (NAG) record in as many days.

Jacoby, who turns 19 in just a few days, blazed a personal-best 2:04.32 to shave more than a second off Ella Nelson‘s previous NAG record of 2:05.68 from 2020. Jacoby lowered her lifetime best from last month (2:06.66) by more than two seconds. She now owns the No. 3 time in the NCAA this season behind Virginia’s Kate Douglass (2:01.43) and Alex Walsh (2:03.68).

On Friday night, Jacoby won her first Big 12 title in the 100 breast, also in a new NAG-record time (57.29).

Elendt reached the wall more than a second behind Elendt, but still nearly four seconds ahead of third-place finisher Channing Hanley of Texas, though Hanley’s time should secure her an NCAA Championship berth. The Longhorn women are 3-for-4 in terms of podium sweeps so far tonight in the pool.

200 breast 🤘 | Big 12 Championships

Lydia Jacoby swims the No. 3️⃣ time in the nation and Texas finishes 1-2-3 ! 🏆 #HookEm

🥇 Lydia Jacoby – 2:04.32
🥈 Anna Elendt – 2:05.50
🥉 Channing Hanley – 2:09.32 (No. 6️⃣ All-Time UT performer)
5. Lindsey Hosch – 2:13.60 pic.twitter.com/GtmNAYKjtH

— Texas Women's Swimming & Diving (@TexasWSD) February 26, 2023

MEN’S 200 BREAST – FINALS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:51.54
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:57.95
• Meet Record: 1:49.89 – Will Licon (Texas), 2017
• Big 12 Record: 1:47.91 – Will Licon (Texas), 2017
• 2022 Champion: Caspar Corbeau (Texas) – 1:51.81

Top 8:

1. Caspar Corbeau (Texas) – 1:51.92
2. Braden Vines (Texas) – 1:53.48
3. Jake Foster (Texas) – 1:53.61
4. Paul DeGrado (Texas) – 1:55.96
5. William Chan (Texas) – 1:56.44
6. Danny Berlitz (West Virginia) – 1:56.76
7. Adam McDonald (West Virginia) – 1:57.23
8. Reilly Keaney (West Virginia) – 1:58.37

Texas senior Caspar Corbeau secured his fourth 200 breast title in a row with a time of 1:51.92, just about a tenth of second slower than his winning time from last year.

The Longhorns swept the top five spots in the final courtesy of veterans Braden Vines (1:53.48), Jake Foster (1:53.61), Paul DeGrado (1:55.96), and William Chan (1:56.44).

West Virginia claimed the last three placed in the A-final thanks to the trio of sophomore Danny Berlitz (1:56.76), freshman Adam McDonald (1:57.23), and sophomore Reilly Keaney (1:58.37).

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:52.86
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:59.23
• Meet Record: 1:52.03 – Olivia Bray (Texas), 2021
• Big 12 Record: 1:51.18 – Kathleen Hershey (Texas), 2009
• 2022 Champion: Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 1:52.82

Top 8:

1. Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 1:52.11
2. Dakota Luther (Texas) – 1:52.71
3. Mia Walters (West Virginia) – 2:00.82
4. Lilly Culp (West Virginia) – 2:01.23
5. Lucia Rizzo (Iowa State) – 2:01.36
6. Winter Craig (Iowa State) – 2:02.08
7. Amelie Lessing (Kansas) – 2:02.51
8. Lauren Musbach (West Virginia) – 2:03.56

Texas junior Emma Sticklen was slightly off her NCAA-leading time from last month (1:51.37), but her 1:52.11 tonight proved to be enough to hold off grad transfer teammate Dakota Luther (1:52.71) by about half a second for her second 200 fly title in a row. Sticklen was .71 seconds faster than her winning time from last year.

West Virginia sophomore Mia Walters was more than eight seconds behind Sticklen and Luther with a 2:00.82 to round out the podium.

MEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:40.20
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:46.31
• Meet Record: 1:39.35 – Jack Conger (Texas), 2017
• Big 12 Record: 1:37.17 – Jack Conger (Texas), 2017
• 2022 Champion: David Dixon (West Virginia) – 1:43.64

Top 8:

1. Sam Artmann (Texas) – 1:42.63
2. Cole Crane (Texas) – 1:43.25
3. Coby Carrozza (Texas) – 1:45.45
4. Piotr Sadlowski (TCU) – 1:47.17
5. Kornel Kohalmi (TCU) – 1:48.00
6. David Snider (West Virginia) – 1:48.02
7. Alvaro Santiago (West Virginia) – 1:49.99
8. Grant Klatt (TCU) – 1:50.59

Texas senior Sam Artmann led another Longhorns podium sweep in the 200 fly with a 1:42.63. He’s the first new Big 12 champion on the men’s side so far tonight and just the second on either side after Lydia Jacoby captured the women’s 200 breast title.

Artmann’s time marks a new season-best, not far off his lifetime best of 1:42.06 from last March’s American Short Course Championships. Texas teammates Cole Crane (1:43.25) and Coby Carrozza (1:45.45) rounded out the podium behind Artmann.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE RELAY – TIMED FINAL

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 3:14.10
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 3:16.32
• Meet Record – 3:11.72 – Texas, 2018
• Big 12 Record – 3:09.56 – Texas, 2018

Top 3:

1. Texas – 3:11.29
2. TCU – 3:19.36
3. West Virginia – 3:20.24

The Texas quartet of Kelly Pash (47.62), Olivia Bray (47.29), Ava Longi (47.93), and Kyla Leibel (48.45) combined for a new Big 12 Championship record of 3:11.29, lowering the Longhorns’ mark from 2018. Notably, Pash’s 47.62 leadoff was even faster than the 47.68 that won her the 100 free individual title earlier in the session.

MEN’S 400 FREE RELAY – TIMED FINAL

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 2:50.52
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 2:52.44
• Meet Record – 2:47.59 – Texas, 2022
• Big 12 Record – 2:45.13 – Texas, 2019

Top 3:

1. Texas – 2:49.26
2. West Virginia – 2:54.77
3. TCU – 2:55.69

Texas cruised to a six-second victory in the men’s 400 free relay with a final time of 2:49.26, but the Longhorns were a couple seconds off their meet record from last year (2:47.59).

Texas senior Daniel Krueger (42.25), senior Peter Larson (42.15), sophomore Luke Hobson (42.46), and junior Carson Foster (42.40) combined for the Longhorns’ winning time.

Team Scores

Women

1. Texas – 1,105
2. Iowa State – 564.5
3. TCU – 555.5
4. West Virginia – 540
5. Kansas – 515

Men

1. Texas – 1,060
2. TCU – 847
3. West Virginia – 755

The team victories represented the 11th in a row for the Texas women and 27th in a row for the Texas men.