2024 Big 12 Championships: Day 3 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 Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Recap
• Day 3 Finals Heat Sheet

The 2024 Big 12 Championships continued tonight with a full slate of events. The session gets underway at 5:15 EST with finals of the women’s 1m diving event. Texas’ Hailey Hernandez led the morning prelims sessions with a score of 342.00.

From there, we move to the 100 fly. On the women’s side it should be a fun battle between Longhorn teammates, with Olivia Bray and Emma Sticklen swimming side-by-side in lanes 4 and 5. BYU’s Jordan Tiffany will be swimming for a bit of an upset on the men’s side after posting the only sub-46 time of the morning.

Angie Coe (Texas) and Danny Berlitz (West Virginia) are the top seeds in the 400 IM, while the 200 freestylers feature a bevy of big names. That includes Erin Gemmell, Erica Sullivan, and Kelly Pash for the Longhorn women, and four Texas men who touched within a tenth of a second of each other.

After another break, the evening will wrap up with timed finals of the 400 medley relay. The Longhorn women should win that easily. The men’s side could be a little more interesting — BYU has the top seed and has been swimming well this week, but Texas has a deep bench, and should be able to put together a winning lineup.

Women’s 1m Diving – Finals

• Big 12 Record: 369.40, Paola Pineda (Texas) – 2021
• Big 12 Championship Record: 369.40, Paola Pineda (Texas) – 2021

Top 3:

1. Hailey Hernandez (Texas) – 358.35
2. Shiyun Lai (Kansas) – 340.45
3. Anna Kwong (Texas Christian) – 336.30

WOMEN’S 100 FLY – Finals

• NCAA Record: 48.25, Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 2024
• Big 12 Record: 49.79, Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 2023
• Big 12 Championship Record: 50.07, Olivia Bray (Texas) – 2023
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 50.69
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 52.20

Top 8:

1. Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 50.61
2. Olivia Bray (Texas) – 50.80
3. Ava Longi (Texas) – 52.28
4. Joleigh Crye (Cincinnati) – 53.60
5. Jeanne Dahmen (Texas Christian) – 53.72
6. Noor El Gendy (Houston) – 54.11
7. Lydia Lafferty (Kansas) – 54.34
8. Abbie Alvarez (Houston) – 54.36

Three Texas women went out in under 24, and while Ava Longi faded just a bit down the back half, Emma Sticklen and Olivia Bray battled it out stroke-for-stroke into the finish. Sticklen got her hands on the wall first, touching in 50.61 to Bray’s 50.80. Sticklen already ranks #2 in the nation this season with a 50.36 from the Texas Invite, with Bray ranking 4th at 50.47. Teammate Kelly Pash, who’s swimming the 200 later tonight, ranks 3rd in the nation at 50.37.

Longi took 3rd tonight in 52.28. The Longhorns have one of the bests, if not the best, butterfly group in the country, and they’ll be looking to rack up the points in that discipline at next month’s NCAA championships as they try to unseat Virginia.

Cincinnati’s Joleigh Crye and TCU’s Jeanne Dahmen dueled for 4th, with Crye touching first, 53.60 to 53.73. There was a three-way battle for 6th, with Houston’s Noor El Gendy taking 6th at 54.11, followed by Kansas’ Lydia Lafferty (54.34) and fellow Cougar Abbie Alvarez (54.36).

MEN’S 100 FLY – Finals

• NCAA Record: 42.80, Caeleb Dressel (Florida) – 2018
• Big 12 Record: 43.75, Joseph Schooling (Texas) – 2017
• Big 12 Championship Record: 44.06, Joseph Schooling (Texas) – 2017
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.64
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 45.57

Top 8:

1. Jordan Tiffany (BYU) – 44.51
2. Cole Crane (Texas) – 45.98
3. Piotr Sadłowski (TCU) – 46.33
4. Tanner Edwards (BYU) – 46.71
5. Alec Filipovic (Texas) 46.72
6. Sam Artmann (Texas) – 46.76
7. Ryan Branon (Texas) – 47.02
8. Tony Puertas (BYU) – 47.35

There’s a lot of fun storylines here. Here’s the one sentence summary: Jordan Tiffany, who stepped away from the sport of swimming a couple years ago, won BYU’s first Big 12 title in an event where the Longhorns have a lot of history.

Tiffany didn’t even have much competition, and he touched in 44.51, over a second ahead of Texas’ Cole Crane (45.98), who won the 50 free last night. That time moves Tiffany to #8 in the nation this season.

Brigham Young had three swimmers in the A-final, and got 4th-place points from Tanner Edwards (46.71) and an 8th-place finish from Tony Puertas (47.35). Piotr Sadłowski, TCU’s lone swimmer, finished 3rd in 46.71.

Longhorns Alec Filipovic (46.72), Sam Artmann (46.76), and Ryan Branon (47.02) finished 6th through 8th, respectively.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:54.60, Ella Eastin (Stanford) – 2018
• Big 12 Record: 4:00.97, Madisyn Cox (Texas) – 2017
• Big 12 Championship Record: 4:01.15, Madisyn Cox (Texas) – 2017
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:03.62
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 4:11.36

Top 8:

1. Campbell Stoll (Texas) – 4:07.14
2. Alicia Wilson (Texas) – 4:09.04
3. Angie Coe (Texas) – 4:09.38
4. Libby Michel (Cincinnati) – 4:16.20
5. Alessandra Senis (TCU) – 4:16.87
6. Alondra Ortiz (Houston) – 4:17.75
7. Sydney Inman (TCU) – 4:21.17
8. Syd Nethercutt (Houston) – 4:21.80

Freshman Campbell Stoll won her first Big 12 title with a well-executed 400 IM and a time of 4:07.14 that moves her to #13 in the nation this season. Stoll’s been a little faster, with a lifetime best of 4:05.71 from last year’s NCSA Championships, so watch for her to improve on today’s time at NCAAs.

Teammate Alicia Wilson and Angie Coe were also under last year’s NCAA invite time of 4:11.36. Wilson hit a season-best time of 4:09.04 with a strong back half. Her lifetime best of 4:04.10 comes from the 2020 Stanford Invite, back when she was swimming for Cal.

Coe, like Stoll a freshman, took 3rd in 4:09.38. Stoll’s lifetime best of 4:07.45 came just a few weeks ago at the Sterkel Invite, suggesting that, like her teammates, she could have more in the tank for NCAAs.

MEN’S 400 IM – Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:28.82, Leon Marchand (Arizona State) – 2023
• Big 12 Record: 3:33.79, Carson Foster (Texas) – 2022
• Big 12 Championship Record: 3:35.49, Carson Foster (Texas) – 2023
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:38.90
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 3:42.99

Top 8:

1. Danny Berlitz (WVU) – 3:43.02
2. Ivan Puskovitch (WVU) – 3:47.61
3. Alec Enyeart (Texas) – 3:47.74
4. Kyle Bumgardner (Cincinnati) – 3:50.42
5. Geremia Freri (TCU) – 3:53.43
6. Kornel Kohalmi (TCU) – 3:53.58
7. Erik Menchhofer (Cincinnati) – 3:54.21
8. Tama Tuitama (BYU) – 3:54.82

A bearded Danny Berlitz led the Mountaineers to a 1-2 finish with a 3:43.02 win here tonight. That time is just off the 3:42.99 it took to qualify for NCAAs last year. Berlitz’s teammate and childhood friend, and Olympic open water qualifier, Ivan Puskovitch, took 2nd in 3:47.61.

The Texas men, who are still looking for their first win tonight (likely to come in the next event), got a 3rd-place finish from Alec Enyeart, who touched just behind Puskovitch at 3:47.61.

Cincinnati’s Kyle Bumgardner took 4th in 3:50.42, just off of his lifetime best of 3:50.21 from midseason. His teammate Erik Menchhofer took 7th in 3:54.21.

There was a dual for 6th between a pair of Horned Frogs teammates, as Geremia Freri got his hand on the wall just ahead of Kornel Kohalmi, 3:53.43 to 3:53.58. BYU’s Tama Tuitama rounded out the top eight with a 3:54.82.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE – Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:39.10, Missy Franklin (Cal) – 2015
• Big 12 Record: 1:42.38, Kelly Pash (Texas) – 2022
• Big 12 Championship Record: 1:42.70, Kelly Pash (Texas) – 2021
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:42.84
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 1:45.31

Top 8:

1. Kelly Pash (Texas) – 1:42.97
2. Erin Gemmell (Texas) – 1:44.34
3. Erica Sullivan (Texas) – 1:46.39
4. Emma Davidson (Texas) – 1:47.02
5. Jessica Davis (Cincinnati) – 1:47.13
6. Julie Rose (Cincinnati) – 1:47.45
7. Mikayla Popham (TCU) – 1:47.83
8. Tatum Cooley (BYU) – 1:51.20

The Longhorns swept the top four spots here tonight, as Kelly Pash flirted with her own meet record. She touched in 1:42.97, just 0.27s off her Big 12 Champs record, 0.33 shy of her season best, and just over a half a second off of her overall Big 12 record.

Freshman Erin Gemmell took 2nd in 1:44.34, a little over a second off of her midseason time, followed by Erica Sullivan (1:46.39) and Emma Davidson (1:47.02).

Davidson touched just ahead of Cincinnati teammates Jessica Davis (1:47.13) and Julia Rose (1:47.45). TCU’s Mikayla Popham (1:47.83) and BYU’s Tatum Cooley (1:51.20) finished 7th and 8th.

MEN’S 200 FREE – Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:29.15, Dean Farris (Harvard) – 2019
• Big 12 Record: 1:29.50, Townley Haas (Texas) – 2018
• Big 12 Championship Record: 1:32.01, Ricky Berens (Texas) – 2009
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:31.74
• 2023 NCAA Invite Time: 1:32.85

Top 8:

1. Coby Carrozza (Texas) – 1:32.63
2. Nate Germonprez (Texas) – 1:33.00
3. Camden Taylor (Texas) – 1:33.90
4. Manning Haskal (Texas) – 1:35.82
5. Payton Plumb (BYU) – 1:36.09
6. Joshua Reed (BYU) – 1:36.51
7. Luke Dimiceli (TCU) – 1:36.84
8. Milan Fabian (TCU) – 1:37.25

This is one of the Longhorns’ traditional strengths, so it was no surprise to see them claim the top four finishes tonight. Coby Carrozza led the way at 1:32.63 after swimming a lifetime best 1:31.97 leading off Texas’ 800 free relay Tuesday night. Carrozza’s swim Tuesday night was faster than the official Big 12 meet record, although that hasn’t been reflected in the Big 12 live results or heat sheets yet.

Freshman Nate Germonprez stayed closed to Carrozza most of the way, and came up just a bit short at the touch, taking 2nd in 1:33.00. That’s a new personal best for Germonprez, who was sub 1:32 on a flying start Tuesday night and who’s previous official best was a 1:33.96 from almost exactly a year ago.

Fellow Longhorn freshman Camden Taylor had a big swim to take 3rd in 1:33.90. That’s also a lifetime best, surpassing his 1:36.38 from midseason. That also probably puts Taylor into the running to swim the 800 free relay at NCAAs, although it’d mean a double with the 200 medley relay.

Manning Haskal, who split 1:33.74 on the relay Tuesday, finished 4th tonight in 1:35.82. His lifetime best of 1:34.47 came at the Texas Invite this past November.

Two pairs of teammates placed behind the Longhorn quartet. BYU’s Payton Plumb (1:36.09) hit his first lifetime best in three years to place 5th, followed by teammate Joshua Reed, who shaved a few hundredths off of his lifetime best to take 6th in 1:36.51. TCU’s Luke Dimiceli (1:36.84) and Milan Fabian (1:37.25) pulled in points for the Horned Frogs at 7th and 8th.

Men’s 3m Diving – Finals

• Big 12 Record: 553.15, Jordan Windle (Texas) – 2020
• Big 12 Meet Record: 553.15, Jordan Windle (Texas) – 2020

Top 3:

1. Noah Duperre (Texas) – 446.80
2. Brendan McCourt (Texas) – 411.80
3. Tanner Braughton (Texas) – 410.10

The vaunted Longhorn diving corps put five men into the championship final, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise to see them sweep the top three positions. Seniors Noah Duperre (446.80) and Brendan McCourt (411.80) led the way, while freshman Tanner Braughton finished just behind McCourt for 3rd, at 410.10.

Women’s 400 Medley Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA Record: 3:21.80, Virginia – 2023
• Big 12 Record: 3:25.18, Texas – 2023
• Big 12 Championships Record: 3:26.32, Texas – 2022
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:31.38

Top 7:

1. Texas – 3:27.18
2. Cincinnati – 3:33.89
3. TCU – 3:37.27
4. Houston – 3:38.11
5. West Virginia – 3:39.41
6. BYU – 3:40.22
7. Iowa State – 3:43.11

We’re still waiting for full results, but the Texas women easily took the win with a 3:27.18 using the same quartet that set the meet record at 3:26.32 two years ago.

Tonight, Olivia Bray led off in 51.85, Anna Elendt split 56.95 on breast, Emma Sticklen split 50.51 on fly, and Kelly Pash anchored in 47.87. The Longhorns currently sit at #4 in the nation with a 3:25.25 from midseason.

Cincinnati took 2nd with a huge program record, improving on their 3:38.36 previous record from midseason to 3:33.89 tonight. The biggest differences came on the back and fly legs, where moving Grace Gavin from back to fly and having Lilly Jones swim back led to roughly three seconds of improvement on those two legs.

TCU finished 3rd in 3:37.27, while the Kansas women were DQ’d for an early takeoff.

Men’s 400 Medley Relay –  Timed Finals

• NCAA Record: 2:58.32, Florida – 2023
• Big 12 Record: 2:59.22, Texas – 2022
• Big 12 Championships Record: 3:02.11 – 2021
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:04.96

Top 5:

1. Texas – 3:04.04
2. TCU – 3:07.77
3. Cincinnati – 3:10.43
4. West Virginia – 3:12.82

Texas closed out the night with a 3:04.04 win, moving them up to #12 in the nation this season. Freshman Will Modglin led off in 44.56, just a hair off his personal best of 44.49 from midseason. Fellow freshman  Will Scholtz split a solid 51.65 on breast. Fifth year Cole Crane split 45.71 on fly after going, and Alec Filipovic, anchored in 42.12, a second and a half faster than his lifetime best of 43.63.

The Longhorns probably have some room for improvement still, as Jake Foster went 51.22 individually a month ago, Crane split 45.33 last year at NCAAs, where Luke Hobson anchored this relay in 41.48.

Texas Christian took 2nd in 3:07.77, with Edgar Cicanci setting a new school record leading off in 46.92.

BYU had a rough race. Jordan Tiffany appeared to slip on the start of the backstroke and essentially had to catch up from a dead stop. He still split 47.21, a solid time considering the circumstances. Brad Polo split 51.93 on breast, the 2nd-fastest split of the night. Despite Tiffany’s misadventure, BYU initially touch 3rd in 3:08.83, but eventually was DQ’d due to an early takeoff by anchor Luigi Riva.

Scores Through Day 3

Women

1. Texas – 1076
2. Houston – 597.5
3. Texas Christian – 584
4. Cincinnati – 458
5. Brigham Young – 411
6. West Virginia – 348
7. Kansas – 323
8. Iowa State – 284

Men

1. Texas – 1231
2. Texas Christian – 747
3. Brigham Young – 681
4. Cincinnati – 616.5
5. West Virginia – 572.5