2024 Big 12 Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2024 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Dates: Tuesday, February 27 – Saturday, March 2
• Morgantown, West Virginia
  • The Aquatic Center at Mylan Park
• Defending Champions:
  • Men: Texas (27x)
  • Women: Texas (11x)
• Championship Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Results also available via Meet Mobile: “2024 Big 12 Swimming & Diving Championships”
• Live Video (ESPN+ Subscription Required)
• Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

Day two of the 2024 Big 12 Championships will feature finals of the 500 free, 200 IM, and 50 freestyle. This morning, we saw the University of Texas claim the top seed in five of those six events, and are set to extend their lead in both the men’s and women’s team standings.

Erica Sullivan and Coby Carrozza lead the way into tonight’s 500 free final, with Sullivan (4:46.06) outpacing freshman teammate Erin Gemmell (4:47.03) by just under a second earlier today. Carrozza (4:19.92) was the lone individual under the 4:20-barrier in prelims, but teammates Alec Enyeart (4:20.34) and Manning Haskal (4:22.39) weren’t too far behind.

Texas’ Kelly Pash is seeking her 5th 200 IM title, as she has won the event for the past four years. She owns a best time of 1:53.18, which she posted this season at the Texas Invite. Brigham Young’s Jordan Tiffany, a junior transfer, clocked 1:42.84 to claim the top men’s qualifying spot. A pair of Texas first-years are in close pursuit though, with Nate Germonprez (1:42.99) qualifying ahead of Will Modglin (1:43.97). Both Germonprez and Modglin had great relay swims yesterday and look to be in position to drop significant time tonight.

Grace Cooper (21.96) was the lone swimmer under the 22-second threshold in 50 free preliminary action, with teammate Ava Longi (22.29) ranked 2nd heading into the final. Texas graduate student Cole Crane (19.64) topped the men’s 50 free prelims, with six other swimmers dipping under 20-seconds.

Men’s 1-Meter Diving

• Big 12 Record: 469.85 points, Jordan Windle (Texas)
• Big 12 Championship Record: 469.85 points, Jordan Windle (Texas)

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Brendan McCourt (TEX) – 435.35 points
2. Nick Harris (TEX) – 434.65 points
3. Noah Duperre (TEX) – 419.65 points
4. Mickey Strauss (BYU) – 407.20 points
5. Manny Borowski (TEX) – 378.40 points
6. Tanner Braunton (TEX) – 375.05 points
7. Pierce Brooke (TEX) – 332.75 points
8. Alec Hubbard (TCU) – 331.50 points

Texas showed their 1-meter diving depth today, as six of the top eight were Texas Longhorns. They posted a 1-2-3 finish, with Brendan McCourt (435.35 points) just outscoring teammate Nick Harris (434.65 points) by less than a point. Senior Noah Duperre rounded out the Texas sweep with a respectable score of 419.65.

Brigham Young’s Mickey Strauss, a senior, finished 4th with 407.20 points. Three Texas divers followed behind him, with Manny Borowski (378.40 points) leading the way ahead of Tanner Braunton (375.05 points) and Pierce Brooke (332.75 points). Texas Christian University’s Alec Hubbard finished 8th (331.50 points).

WOMEN’S 500 FREE – FINAL

• NCAA Record: 4:24.06, Katie Ledecky (Stanford) – 2017
• Big 12 Record: 4:35.02, Evie Pfeifer (Texas) – 2021
• Big 12 Championship Record: 4:36.35, Evie Pfeifer (Texas) – 2021
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:37.89
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 4:41.09

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Erin Gemmell (TEX) – 4:40.09
2. Erica Sullivan (TEX) – 4:40.15
3. Kara Church (TCU) – 4:46.12
4. Mikayla Popham (TCU) – 4:48.92
5. Eden Humphrey (UH) – 4:48.98
6. Jordan Edwards (TCU) – 4:50.63
7. Sydney Inman (TCU) – 4:50.76
8. Regan Geldmacher (BYU) – 4:57.06

Texas teammates Erica Sullivan and Erin Gemmell separated themselves from the field after the very first lap. Both showcased high stroke rates through the opening 250, and they flipped just 0.02 apart, with Gemmell holding a slight advantage. From there, freshman Gemmell would hold her narrow lead to touch 0.06 ahead of Sullivan at the finish. Gemmell’s final time of 4:40.09 checks-in as a new lifetime best, with Sullivan’s 4:40.15 just shy of her season best.

A pair of TCU swimmers recorded 3rd and 4th place finishes, with Kara Church (4:46.12) touching ahead of Mikayla Popham (4:48.92). Popham was in a tight race was Houston’s Eden Humphrey and just touched her out by 0.06 at the finish.

TCU had two additional swimmers in the final, with Jordan Edwards (4:50.63) and Sydney Inman (4:50.76) checking-in for 6th and 7th place finishes. This was a big points swing for the Horned Frogs, as they represent half of the ‘A’ finalists tonight.

Texas’ Abby Pfeifer dropped big from her prelims time of 4:54.25, clocking 4:49.84 to win the ‘B’ final. She has been as fast as 4:47.11 this season, and was the 3rd seed heading into the meet.

MEN’S 500 FREE – FINAL

• NCAA Record: 4:06.32, Kieran Smith (Florida) – 2020
• Big 12 Record: 4:07.37, Luke Hobson (Texas) – 2023
• Big 12 Championship Record: 4:11.11, Clark Smith (Texas) – 2017
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:10.74
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 4:14.36

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Coby Carrozza (TEX) – 4:11.95
2. Alec Enyeart (TEX) – 4:19.33
3. Manning Haskal (TEX) – 4:22.07
4. Milan Fabian (TCU) – 4:22.35
5. Kornel Kohalmi (TCU) – 4:25.43
6. Alex Gonzalez (CINC) – 4:25.87
7. Aaron Wilmes (TCU) – 4:26.84
8. Ian McKinney (WVU) – 4:27.88

It was a Texas sweep in the men’s 500 free, with senior Coby Carrozza leading a 1-2-3 punch. He placed his hand on the wall in 4:11.95, which undercuts his previous best time of 4:12.05, which he set at the 2023 NCAA Championships. A pair of sophomores finished behind him, as Alec Enyeart (4:19.33) finished about three seconds ahead of Manning Haskal (4:22.07).

Texas Christian junior Milan Fabian gave Haskal a close race for 3rd, ultimately posting a time of 4:22.35. Fabian closed in 25.52 to Haskal’s 26.21, but Haskal had too big of a lead after the first 450. Fabian was one of three TCU representatives in the field, with Kornel Kohalmi (4:25.43) and Aaron Wilmes (4:26.84) finishing in 5th and 7th.

Cincinnati’s Alex Gonzalez (4:25.87) and West Virginia’s Ian McKinney (4:27.88) rounded out the field in 6th and 8th, just off their prelim times.

West Virginia’s Ivan Puskovitch had a strong swim to win the ‘B’ final, posting a time that would’ve been fast enough for 5th in the ‘A’ final. Puskovitch touched in 4:22.83 there, building upon the great month he’s had on the international stage. Puskovitch recently competed at the Doha World Championships, representing Team USA in the open water events. He punched his automatic ticket to the Paris Olympics in the 10k via his 14th place showing.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

• NCAA Record: 1:48.37, Kate Douglass (Virginia) – 2023
• Big 12 Record: 1:52.58, Madisyn Cox (Texas) – 2017
• Big 12 Championship Record: 1:52.82, Madisyn Cox (Texas) – 2017
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:53.66
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 1:56.90

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Kelly Pash (TEX) – 1:53.80
2. Emma Sticklen (TEX) – 1:55.05
3. Angie Coe (TEX) – 1:55.99
4. Campbell Stoll (TEX) – 1:56.76
5. Alicia Wilson (TEX) – 1:57.98
6. Grace Gavin (CINC) – 1:58.82
7. Julie Rose (CINC) – 1:59.21
8. Mia Cheatwood (WVU) – 2:01.04

The Texas women were simply dominant in the women’s 200 IM.

They placed 1st through 5th in the event, with Kelly Pash touching in 1:53.80 to win the event for the 5th straight year. Senior Emma Sticklen gave her a great race through the first 100, as the two turned just 0.04 apart at the halfway turn. Pash’s 33.92 breaststroke split was the difference maker, with Sticklen recording a split of 34.74 on that leg.

Freshman Angie Coe featured in the top three with her 1:55.99 clocking, which is just shy of the 1:55.91 best time she posted in November. She was very balanced through all four of the strokes, splitting 25.20 on fly, 28.62 on back, 34.11 on breast, and 28.06 on free.

Campbell Stoll (1:56.76) and Alicia Wilson (1:57.98) completed the Longhorn sweep, dropping from their prelim swims in the process. Wilson has notably been as fast as 1:53.58 in the event, which she posted back in 2021 when she was representing the Cal Bears.

Cincinnati had a pair of swimmers in the final, with Grace Gavin representing well in 6th position. She hit the wall in 1:58.82 to touch ahead of teammate Julie Rose (1:59.21), with both swimmers posting new lifetime bests. Mia Cheatwood (2:01.04) posted an 8th place showing for West Virginia, finishing 0.82 shy of her prelim time of 2:00.22.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

• NCAA Record: 1:36.34, Leon Marchand (Arizona State) – 2023
• Big 12 Record: 1:39.63, John Shebat (Texas) – 2019
• Big 12 Championship Record: 1:40.42, Carson Foster (Texas) – 2023
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:41.03
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 1:43.14

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Will Modglin (Texas) – 1:41.01
2. Nate Germonprez (Texas) – 1:41.29
3. Jordan Tiffany (BYU) – 1:41.88
4. Alec Filipovic (TEX) – 1:43.44
5. Danny Berlitz (WVU) – 1:43.94
6. Geremia Freri (TCU) – 1:44.71
7. Brad Prolo (BYU) – 1:45.34
8. Hunter Gubeno (CINC) – 1:45.75

A fun battle unfolded in tonight’s 200 IM for the men, with Will Modglin (TEX), Nate Germonprez (TEX), and Jordan Tiffany (BYU) in a close race from start to finish. Tiffany took the race out strongest, leading through both the butterfly and backstroke legs. Germonprez had the strongest breaststroke of the three, taking the lead by 0.10 over teammate Modglin with 50 yards to go. Modglin inched ahead of Germonprez during the freestyle legs, leading a 1-2 finish for the Longhorns. Modglin stopped the clock in 1:41.01 while Germonprez finished with a time of 1:41.29, both best times for the freshman athletes.

Jordan Tiffany also finished in a new best time (and BYU school record), hitting the wall in 1:41.88. Tiffany posted a best time (1:42.84) during today’s prelims, so he dropped almost a second off that newly-minted marker.

Splits Comparison:

Texas and BYU each had an additional swimmer in the ‘A’ final, with Alec Filipovic (1:43.44) of Texas claiming 4th place and Brad Prolo (1:45.34) from BYU earning 7th. West Virginia senior Danny Berlitz (1:43.94) and TCU junior Geremia Freri (1:44.71) finished between them, clocking 5th and 6th place performances. Cincinnati’s Hunter Gubeno (1:45.75) was 8th tonight, just off his prelim time of 1:45.48.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE – FINAL

• NCAA Record: 20.57, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2024
• Big 12 Record: 21.66, Grace Cooper (Texas) – 2023
• Big 12 Championship Record: 21.87, Chang Hee-Chin (Texas) – 2009
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 21.63
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 22.15

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Grace Cooper (TEX) – 22.01
2. Ava Longi (TEX) – 22.16
3. Sienna Schellenger (TEX) – 22.36
4. Jessica Davis (CINC) – 22.38
5. Alexa Fulton (TEX) – 22.55
6. Emma Davison (TEX) – 22.70
7. Halli Williams (BYU) – 22.74
8. Olivia Rhodes (TCU) – 22.80

Senior Grace Cooper led another Longhorn sweep in the women’s 50 free, touching the wall in a time of 22.01. While her time was a bit off her prelim (21.96) and midseason (21.66) efforts, it represented her fourth straight title in the event. Fellow senior Ava Longi closed strong over the final 25, finishing just off her 22.01 best time from earlier this month. Sienna Schellenger was 3rd in 22.36, narrowly missing her best time of 22.34 from earlier in the month.

Two more Texas swimmers raced in the ‘A’ final tonight, with freshman Alexa Fulton (22.55) touching ahead of Emma Davidson (22.70). They placed 5th and 6th, as Cincinnati senior Jessica Davis (22.38) finished ahead of them in 4th.

Halli Williams of BYU and Olivia Rhodes of TCU were 7th and 8th tonight, posting times of 22.74 and 22.80, respectively.

MEN’S 50 FREE – FINAL

• NCAA Record: 17.63, Caeleb Dressel (Florida) – 2018
• Big 12 Record: 18.60, Drew Kibler (Texas) – 2022
• Big 12 Championship Record: 18.76, Drew Kibler (Texas) – 2022
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 18.82
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 19.21

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Cole Crane (TEX) – 19.36
2. Peter Paulus (TEX) – 19.52
3. Camden Taylor (TEX) – 19.58
4. Jon Osa (CINC) – 19.68
5. Diego Camacho Salgado (BYU) – 19.86
6. Jadon Wuilliez (TCU) – 19.95
7. Sam Artmann (TEX) – 20.02
8. –

DQ: Tanner Edwards (BYU)

Butterfly specialist Cole Crane had a great swim in tonight’s 50 freestyle, winning in a new best time of 19.36. The Texas graduate student was the only person to swim under 10-seconds on the final 25, with ultimately garnered him the win over teammate Peter Paulus (19.52). Camden Taylor rounded out the top three in 19.58, completing the 1-2-3 Longhorn sweep. Another Texas swimmer featured in tonight’s final, and it was Sam Artmann, who finished 7th in 20.02. Artmann was marginally quicker earlier in the day, where he posted a marker of 19.90.

Jon Osa of Cincinnati was 4th overall, hitting the wall in 19.68 to eclipse his prelim swim of 19.71. That represents two best times for him on the day, so look for him to build upon this performance later in the meet. He’s entered in the 100 fly, 100 back, 100 free, 200 free, and 200 back, and will have to choose two of those events.

Diego Camacho Salgado (BYU) and Jadon Wuilliez (TCU) clocked sub-20 swims of 19.86 and 19.95, earning 6th and 7th place for their respective teams. Salgado’s BYU teammate, Tanner Edwards, was disqualified for a 15m violation.

‘B’ final action was very fast too, as two sub-20 performances were turned in there. Cincinnati senior Drew Hawthorne (19.88) grabbed a narrow victory over BYU junior Luigi Riva (19.90), both clearing the field by a few tenths.

Women’s Team Diving

Top 8 Finishers: 

1. Texas — 376.20 points
2. Kansas — 324.80 points
3. Houston — 324.40 points
4. Brigham Young — 286.55 points
5. Iowa State — 281.90 points
6. Texas Christian — 281.50 points
7. Cincinnati — 255.35 points
8. West Virginia — 251.05 points

Texas outscored the field in women’s team diving, scoring 376.20 points to claim gold. Kansas (324.80 points) and Houston (324.40 points) had a very close battle for 2nd, with Kansas ultimately finishing 0.40 ahead in the final scoring. Texas’ winning trio was comprised of Hailey Hernandez, Bridget O’Neil, and Jordan Skilken.

Team Scores (After Day Two)

Women:

1. University of Texas — 571 points
2. Texas Christian University — 317 points
3. University of Houston — 273.5 points
4. Brigham Young University — 258 points
5. University of Cincinnati — 257 points
6. West Virginia University — 251 points
7. Iowa State University & University of Kansas — 194 points

Men:

1. University of Texas — 707 points
2. Texas Christian University — 428 points
3. Brigham Young University — 397 points
4. West Virginia University — 344.5 points
5. University of Cincinnati — 340.5 points