2016 Big 12 Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2016 BIG 12 MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, February 24 – Saturday, February 27
• Texas Swimming Center, Austin, TX (Central Time Zone)
• Prelims 10AM / Finals 6 PM
• Defending Champion: Texas men (19x) & Texas women (4x) (results)
• Live results
• Championship Central
• Women’s Fan Guide and Men’s Fan Guide

The Texas men and women showcased their depth this morning, setting themselves up to continue their trend of dominance in the Big 12. Clark Smith will race his teammates Jonathan Roberts and Townley Haas for the 500 free title, Madisyn Cox will take center pool in the 200 IM, and Texas freshman Tate Jackson will look for his first career Big 12 title in the 50 free. The session closes with the 400 medley relays.

WOMEN’S 500 FREE

1. Joanna Evans, Texas- 4:39.97
2. Quinn Carrozza, Texas- 4:42.28
3. Chelsie Miller, Kansas- 4:43.24

Longhorn freshmen Joanna Evans and Quinn Carrozza put up a 1-2 finish for Texas to get the ball rolling in the women’s 500 free. Evans commanded the race, placing first with a 4:39.97 to sneak under the 4:40 barrier. Carrozza battled it out for 2nd with Kansas’ Chelsie Miller. Miller wound up 3rd in 4:43.24.

MEN’S 500 FREE

1. Townley Haas, Texas- 4:12.63
2. Jeff Newkirk, Texas- 4:19.94
3. Jonathan Roberts, Texas- 4:21.71

The men’s 500 free saw another Texas freshmen 1-2. Townley Haas dropped 7 seconds from his prelims time to win the event in 4:12.63. That was a new lifetime best for Haas, over a second off his previous best 4:14.07 from the Texas Invite in December. His teammate Jeff Newkirk also broke 4:20 to take the silver in 4:19.94. Rounding out the podium was Jonathan Roberts with a 4:21.71.

Defending NCAA champion Clark Smith was off his prelims time. He was 4th in 4:22.00 compared to his 4:16.35 this morning. Notably, Smith led through the 200 mark with a 1:38.21 at the flip, but then dropped his pace to 27 mids to 27 highs on the back half.

WOMEN’S 200 IM

1. Madisyn Cox, Texas- 1:54.31
2. Nora McCullagh, Texas- 1:58.19
3. Kasey Roberts, ISU- 2:00.79

Madisyn Cox continued the Texas streak with a victory in the women’s 200 IM. Cox clocked a 1:54.31, narrowly missing her personal best of 1:54.29 from Texas Invite. Cox’s teammate Nora McCullagh joined her under the 2:00 mark with a 1:58.19 for 2nd place. ISU’s Kasey Roberts closed out the top 3 with a 2:00.79, just beating out her teammate Marissa Engel (2:00.99) for 3rd.

MEN’S 200 IM

1. Will Licon, Texas- 1:42.85
2. John Shebat, Texas- 1:44.13
3. Ryan Harty, Texas- 1:44.91

Will Licon took the top spot in the men’s 200 IM by over a second, winning the final with a 1:42.85. Behind him, John Shebat cut nearly 2 seconds off his personal best to take 2nd in 1:44.13. Before the meet, Shebat’s best was a 1:46.07. Closing out the podium and making it a Texas sweep was Ryan Harty, who touched the wall in 1:44.91 for 3rd.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE

1. Rebecca Millard, Texas- 22.20
2. Mimi Schneider, Texas- 22.44
3. Brooke Hansen, Texas- 22.81

Rebecca Millard led a Texas podium sweep of the women’s 50 free. Millard hit the wall first in 22.20 for a new personal best and a Big 12 title. Mimi Schneider clocked a 22.44 to pick up 2nd place. Freshman Brooke Hansen won the bronze with 22.81.

There were 3 more women under the 23 barrier. Sam Sutton was 4th in 22.87, just ahead of her teammate Brynne Wong (22.89). West Virginia’s Jaimee Gillmore claimed 6th place in 22.96.

MEN’S 50 FREE

1. Tate Jackson, Texas- 19.25
2. Brett Ringgold, Texas- 19.46
3. John Murray, Texas- 19.55

Freshman Tate Jackson blazed to the wall in 19.25 to win the men’s 50 free with a new personal best. He’s cut over half a second off his previous best of 19.83 coming into the meet. Brett Ringgold hit the wall in 19.46 to take silver. Behind him, John Murray grabbed bronze in 19.55.

A pair of West Virginia teammates were also under the 20 second barrier. Ross Glegg (19.82) and Merwane Elmerini (19.85) were 4th and 5th, respectively. Matt Ellis was 6th, just behind them in 19.95.

WOMEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY

1. Texas- 3:30.43
2. Kansas- 3:39.61
3. West Virginia- 3:41.70

Texas dominated the women’s 400 medley relay, taking the Big 12 title in the event by over 9 seconds. Tasija Karosas (51.88), Madisyn Cox (59.19), Mimi Schneider (51.85), and Rebecca Millard (47.51) combined for a 3:30.43 to take the win. Kansas was 2nd in 3:39.61. West Virginia closed out the podium with 3rd in 3:41.70 after a 49.72 anchor split by Jaimee Gillmore.

MEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY

1. Texas-3:04.64
2. West Virginia- 3:13.06
3. TCU- 3:15.59

The Texas men blasted a 3:04.64 in the 400 medley relay to take another Big 12 title. John Shebat was a 45.88 on the backstroke leg, shaving a hundredth off his best of 45.89 done in time trials on Wednesday. Will Licon split a 51.58 on the breast leg, followed by a 44.47 fly split from Joseph Schooling and a 42.71 freestyle anchor from Jack Conger.

West Virginia placed 2nd in 3:13.06. The Mountaineers got an impressive 46.03 backstroke split from Andrew Marsh. TCU placed 3rd in 3:15.59, highlighted by a 43.35 anchor from Garrett Hills.