2023 Big 12 Championships: Day 3 Prelims 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
• Day 3 Prelims Heat Sheet

It will be an action-packed day at the Big 12 Championships with five individual events on the docket for this morning’s prelims.

Among the highlights will be Texas’ Lydia Jacoby and Anna Elendt going head-to-head in the women’s 100 breaststroke, with the two swimmers entering the championships ranked third and fourth in the nation, respectively, so far this season.

After a big win and meet record in last night’s 200 IM, Longhorn junior Carson Foster headlines the men’s field in the 400 IM as he has the opportunity to win his third straight title.

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

• 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

1. Olivia Bray (TEX), 51.03
2. Dakota Luther (TEX), 52.85
3. Ava Longi (TEX), 52.99
4. Jeanne Dahmen (TCU), 53.92
5. Grace Cooper (TEX), 53.94
6. Autumn Looney (KANS), 54.28
7. Kaitlyn Witt (KANS), 54.79* – Exhibition
8. Trinity Kay (IST), 54.79
9. Lezli Sisung (KANS), 54.81

Texas junior Olivia Bray led a trio of Longhorns atop the preliminaries of the women’s 100 fly, as she put up a time of 51.03 to lead the field by a 1.82 seconds.

Bray’s time marks a new season-best and nears her fastest swim from last year, which was the 50.97 she produced at the NCAA Championships.

Her teammates Dakota Luther (52.85) and Ava Longi (52.99) cruised to the #2 and #3 times of the morning, with Longi nearing her best time of 52.84 set earlier this month at The Sterkel Classic.

Texas’ Emma Sticklen, who leads the conference this season in a time of 49.79, has opted to race the 200 free this morning instead of the 100 fly.

Note that Kansas’ Kaitlyn Witt was seventh-fastest in the prelims but is racing the event as exhibition, so we’ve listed her teammate Lezli Sisung in the above results as she’ll be the one advancing to the ‘A’ final.

Men’s 100 Butterfly

• 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

1. Alec Filipovic (TEX), 46.75* – Exhibition
2. Sam Artmann (TEX), 46.90
3. Holden Smith (TEX), 47.29* – Exhibition
4. Ryan Branon (TEX), 47.36* – Exhibition
5. Piotr Sadlowski (TCU), 47.49
6. David Snider (WVU), 47.70
7. Cole Crane (TEX), 48.37
8. Braden Osborn (WVU), 48.73
9. Parker Hughes (TCU), 48.92
10. Jake Young (WVU), 49.24
11. Grant Klatt (TCU), 49.40

Texas freshman Alec Filipovic was the fastest swimmer in the men’s 100 fly this morning in 46.75, a new personal best time as he had previously been 47.21 at the Illinois Winter Championships in March 2021.

Filipovic, along with his teammates Holden Smith (47.29) and Ryan Branon (47.36), are listed as exhibition swimmers for this event so they likely won’t be in the ‘A’ final.

The top seed in the championship heat will then go to Longhorn senior Sam Artmann, who clocked in at 46.90. Artmann owns a PB of 46.20, set at the Minnesota Invite, and is coming off of producing a season-best 1:42.67 200 fly in a time trial on Wednesday.

TCU’s Piotr Sadlowski was the second-fastest among non-exhibition swimmers in the event, touching in 47.49 which should earn him Lane 5 tonight. Sadlowski owns a best time of 46.58 from the 2020 Big 12s.

Texas’ Cole Crane, the fastest swimmer in the conference this season at 45.61, advanced fourth overall into the ‘A’ final in 48.37.

Women’s 400 IM

• 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

1. Kelly Pash (TEX), 4:10.22
2. Abby Pfeifer (TEX), 4:19.25
3. Lucia Rizzo (IST), 4:20.61
4. Morgan Burton (WVU), 4:21.05
5. Hailey Farrell (KANS), 4:21.14
6. Chase Davidson (TEX), 4:22.08* – Exhibition
7. Sydney Jackson (IST), 4:24.95
8. Jordan Edwards (TCU), 4:25.00
9. Aidan Howze (KANS), 4:25.49

Butterfly specialist Kelly Pash took to the 400 IM this morning and dominated the women’s field in the heats, clocking 4:10.22 to move into top spot in the conference rankings this season.

Pash owns a best time of 4:04.93, set en route to placing second at last year’s Big 12s.

Longhorn junior Abby Pfeifer qualified second in a personal best time of 4:19.25, dropping nearly four seconds from her previous mark of 4:23.18 from the 2022 Big 12s.

Iowa State’s Lucia Rizzo, third last year, qualified in the same position here in 4:20.61 as she knocks two seconds off her season-best time.

Men’s 400 IM

• 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

1. Carson Foster (TEX), 3:42.25
2. Braden Vines (TEX), 3:42.47
3. Jake Foster (TEX), 3:45.92
4. David Johnston (TEX), 3:47.12
5. Danny Berlitz (WVU), 3:52.15
6. Spencer Aurnou-Rhees (TEX), 3:54.51* – Exhibition
7. Geremia Freri (TCU), 3:54.99
8. Tristan McFarland (TCU), 3:57.44
9. Kornel Kohalmi (TCU), 3:57.68

Texas teammates Carson Foster and Braden Vines put up nearly matching times from separate heats in the men’s 400 IM, with Foster qualifying first into the final in 3:42.25, using a strong front half (1:44.80) before cruising into the finish.

Vines, racing the event for the first time this season, clocked 3:42.47 to position himself favorably for an NCAA invite, and he was over a second under last year’s cutline time (3:43.50). The senior’s best time sits at 3:40.09 from December 2019.

Jake Foster (3:45.92) and David Johnston (3:47.12) made it a clean 1-2-3-4 for Texas this morning, while WVU’s Danny Berlitz advanced through to the final in fifth in 3:52.15.

Johnston has been 3:39.36 this season, done at the Minnesota Invite, while Foster went 3:41.97 at the SMU Classic. Berlitz’s best time sits at 3:41.45, set in 2021, so he could very much be a factor tonight.

Women’s 200 Freestyle

• 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

1. Kyla Leibel (TEX), 1:46.20
2. Emma Sticklen (TEX), 1:47.41
3. Emma Hultquist (TCU), 1:48.27
4. Olivia McMurray (TEX), 1:48.72
5. Abby Reardon (WVU), 1:48.99
6. Ellie Wehrmann (KANS), 1:49.56
7. Serena Gould (TCU), 1:49.88
8. Gabriela De La Torre (WVU), 1:49.99

Defending champion Kyla Leibel paced the women’s 200 free heats this morning in a time of 1:46.20, faster than her time from last year’s final (1:46.28).

Leibel notably had a blistering opening 150 (1:17.62) before closing in 28.58, which was the second-slowest among all ‘A’ finalists.

A senior with the Longhorns, Leibel reset her personal best time earlier this season at the Minnesota Invite in 1:44.75.

Her junior teammate Emma Sticklen, who has been on fire over the last few weeks, neared her lifetime best to qualify second in 1:47.41, having hit a PB of 1:47.35 earlier this month in a dual meet against rICE.

TCU senior Emma Hultquist narrowly earned a PB to qualify third, clocking 1:48.27 to near her best of 1:48.12 from the 2021 Art Adamson Invite.

Men’s 200 Freestyle

• 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

1. Peter Larson (TEX), 1:33.65
2. Luke Hobson (TEX), 1:34.53
3. Jackson Huckabay (TEX), 1:34.60* – Exhibition
4. Coby Carrozza (TEX), 1:34.78
5. Kobe Ndebele (TEX), 1:35.39* – Exhibition
6. Roanoke Shirk (WVU), 1:35.71
7. Luke Dimiceli (TCU) / Milan Fabian (TCU), 1:36.63
8. –
9. Daniel Krueger (TEX), 1:36.68
10. Max Nielsen (WVU), 1:37.16

After setting a personal best time of 1:32.50 leading off the 800 free relay Wednesday night, Texas senior Peter Larson led the way in the heats of the men’s 200 free in a very solid time of 1:33.65.

Larson used some good early speed before shutting things down on the last 50, closing in 25.12 after splitting 21.18/23.20/24.15 on the opening 150.

Luke Hobson, the fastest swimmer in the conference this season at 1:31.89, qualified second in 1:34.53, while sophomore Jackson Huckabay swam to a monstrous two-second best time in 1:34.60, which was third-fastest overall. However, Huckabay will likely be bumped to the consolation final as an exhibition swimmer.

Huckabay notably had the fastest last 50 in the field, as he was the only one sub-24 coming home in 23.87.

Coby Carrozza, who led off the 800 free relay in 1:32.65 on Wednesday, was 1:34.78 to advance third into the final.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke

• 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

1. Anna Elendt (TEX), 58.80
2. Lydia Jacoby (TEX), 59.37
3. Mia Cheatwood (WVU), 1:01.10
4. Gabrielle LePine (IST), 1:01.48
5. Channing Hanley (TEX) / Claire Chahbandour (TCU), 1:01.64
6. –
7. Lindsey Hosch (TEX), 1:02.48
8. Jordan Morgan (TEX), 1:02.57* – Exhibition
9. Ellie McLeod (TEX), 1:02.79* – Exhibition
10. Paige Hanley (IST), 1:03.14

The Texas duo of Anna Elendt and Lydia Jacoby easily qualified 1-2 into the final of the women’s 100 breast, with Elendt leaning on her front-end speed to claim the top seed in 58.80.

Jacoby was the fastest swimmer on the back half, specifically with her 15.53 final 25, as she moves through second overall in 59.37.

Jacoby (57.45) ranks third in the NCAA this season and Elendt (57.48) is fourth.

WVU freshman Mia Cheatwood ranks third after the prelims in 1:01.10, having established a best time of 1:00.56 earlier this season.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke

• 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

1. Will Chan (TEX), 51.94
2. Jadon Wuilliez (TCU), 52.22
3. Caspar Corbeau (TEX), 52.24
4. Paul DeGrado (TEX), 53.59
5. Janis Silins (TCU), 53.72
6. Alex Turney (TEX), 53.79* – Exhibition
7. Raphael Paiva (TCU), 54.13
8. Joe Schaefer (WVU), 54.33
9. Adam McDonald (WVU), 54.67

Texas senior Will Chan cracked 52 seconds for the first time this season to lead the heats of the men’s 100 breast, touching in 51.94 to undercut his previous season-best of 52.41 set at the Minnesota Invite.

Chan owns a best time of 50.95, set at the 2021 Big Tens while he was with Michigan.

TCU’s Jadon Wuilliez grabbed the second seed with a time of 52.22, out-touching defending champion Caspar Corbeau (52.24) in Heat 2.

Wuilliez’s swim marks a new lifetime best, putting him under the 52.25 he swam last season, and it also puts him within range of the 2022 NCAA cutline, which was 52.20.

Corbeau has been as fast as 51.30 so far this season, which ranks seventh in the NCAA. Five of the six swimmers ranked ahead of him have already contested their conference championships.

Women’s 100 Backstroke

• 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

1. Lezli Sisung (KANS), 53.52
2. Liz Richardson (IST), 54.47
3. Jacquline McCutchan (WVU), 54.51
4. Rylee Moore (TCU), 54.54
5. Sophia Gouschi (IST), 54.66
6. Meghan DiMartile (TEX), 54.70
7. Trinity Kay (IST), 54.76
8. Dewi Blose (KANS), 54.80

Kansas sophomore Lezli Sisung dropped a big best time to lead the prelims of the women’s 100 back by a wide margin, qualifying 95 one-hundredths clear of the next-fastest swimmer.

Sisung clocked in at 53.52 to improve on her previous best time of 54.14, which was set at the Kansas Classic in mid-November.

Iowa State’s Liz Richardson placed second in 54.47, dipping under her previous best of 54.53 set at last season’s Big 12s.

Texas freshman Meghan DiMartile will be the fastest swimmer in tonight’s field in terms of season-best times, as she clocked 53.12 at the Minnesota Invite in December. DiMartile is lurking down in sixth after the heats, having gone 54.70.

Men’s 100 Backstroke

• 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

1. Ethan Harder (TEX), 46.50
2. Justin Heimes (WVU), 46.90
3. Charlie Crosby (TEX), 47.46
4. Edgar Cicanci (TCU), 47.70
5. Elliott Jones (TCU), 48.06
6. Jamin Harlan (WVU), 48.84
7. Parker Hughes (TCU), 49.69
8. Maverick Bray (WVU), 50.18

Texas senior Ethan Harder established a new season-best time to lead the heats of the men’s 100 back, clocking 46.50 to get well under his 46.96 mark from the Longhorns’ dual with NC State.

West Virginia junior Justin Heimes used impressive splitting (22.81/24.09) to get himself under the 47-second barrier for the first time, touching in 46.90 after coming in with a best of 47.39. Heimes was third last season in 47.71 after swimming his previous PB in the prelims.