2018 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, February 21 – Saturday, February 24
- Texas Swimming Center, Austin, TX (Central Time Zone)
- Defending Champion: Texas men (21x) & Texas women (5x) (results)
- Live results
- NCAA Qualifying
- Live Video
- Championship Central
The first full day of the 2018 Big 12 Championships is underway in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns are heavy favorites on both the men’s and women’s side, and have at least the top four seeds in all three individual events on both the men’s and women’s side. Defending champions Joanna Evans (women’s 500 free), Rebecca Millard (women’s 50 free), and Joseph Schooling (men’s 50 free) are all back to defend their titles today for Texas, along with Townley Haas, who is the top-seed in the men’s 500 freestyle.
Women’s 500 Freestyle
Conference Record: Joanna Evans, Texas, 4:36.97 (2017)
Meet Record: Joanna Evans, Texas, 4:36.97 (2017)
Defending Champion: Joanna Evans, Texas, 4:36.97
Top 8 finishers:
1. Quinn Carrozza, Texas, 4:44.70
2. Evie Pfeifer, Texas, 4:45.55
3. Lauren Case, Texas, 4:47.79
4. Jenny Nusbaum, Kansas, 4:49.42
5. Logan Shiller, Texas, 4:50.02
6. Lauryn Parrish, Kansas, 4:51.72
7. Mary Kate Luddy, Iowa State, 4:51.92
8. Nika Fellows, Kansas, 4:52.51
Defending champion and conference record holder Joanna Evans was a “no show” in the event, but that didn’t stop the Longhorns from putting up a 1-2-3 finish with ease. Quinn Carrozza took the top spot in 4:44.70, with teammates Evie Pfeifer (4:45.55) and Lauren Case (4:47.79) taking the next two spots. If last year’s final was any indication, expect all three swimmers to be much faster tonight.
The Kansas women placed three swimmers in the top eight, including a lifetime best from Jenny Nusbaum (4:49.42).
Men’s 500 Freestyle
Conference Record: Clark Smith, Texas, 4:08.42 (2017)
Meet Record: Clark Smith, Texas, 4:11.11 (2017)
Defending Champion: Clark Smith, Texas, 4:11.11
Top 8 finishers:
1. JohnThomas Larson, Texas, 4:17.64
2. Jeff Newkirk, Texas, 4:19.24
3. Parker Neri, Texas, 4:20.20
4. Chris Yeager, Texas, 4:20.62
5. Townley Haas, Texas, 4:20.82
6. Sam Pomajevich, Texas, 4:24.68
7. Austin Katz, Texas, 4:25.30
8. Trayton Saladin, West Virginia, 4:25.34
In a near-perfect sweep, the Texas men cruised to a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 finish to kick off their morning, with JohnThomas Larson leading the way in 4:17.64. Overall, the times were very pedestrian; Chris Yeager was the only swimmer to post a lifetime best in that group, with everyone else cruising to the finish. While Townley Haas would be the heavy favorite in a fully-tapered environment, it’s mere speculation to guess how fast the star junior will swim tonight. Watch out for Jeff Newkirk, who dropped a very fast 1:32.80 last night leading off the 800 free relay
Women’s 200 Individual Medley
Conference Record: Madisyn Cox, Texas, 1:52.58 (2017)
Meet Record: Madisyn Cox, Texas, 1:52.82 (2017)
Defending Champion: Madisyn Cox, Texas, 1:52.82
Top 8 finishers:
1. Nora McCullagh, Texas, 1:57.12
2. Brooke Hansen, Texas, 1:58.38
3. Morgan Bullock, West Virginia, 1:59.04
4. Maxine Wolters, Texas, 2:00.44
5. Ashley Pollok, Texas, 2:01.17
6. Elizabeth Amato-Hanner, Kansas, 2:02.27
7. Madison Straight, Kansas, 2:02.88
8. Devin Newton, TCU, 2:03.51
Nora McCullagh and Brooke Hansen clocked another 1-2 finish for Texas, touching in 1:57.12 and 1:58.38, respectively. That’s a lifetime best for McCullagh, who was the runner up in this event a year ago, but still likely just outside the NCAA qualifying line.
West Virginia’s Morgan Bullock dropped nearly two full seconds off her lifetime best to break up the Longhorn sweep, clocking a 1:59.04.
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
Conference Record: Will Licon, Texas, 1:40.04 (2016)
Meet Record: Will Licon, Texas, 1:41.67 (2015)
Defending Champion: Will Licon, Texas, 1:42.35
Top 8 finishers:
1. Jonathan Roberts, Texas, 1:44.87
2. Ryan Harty, Texas, 1:45.13
3. Nate Carr, West Virginia, 1:45.86
4. Mason Tenney, Texas, 1:46.33
5. Jared Butler, Texas, 1:47.18
6. David Dixon, West Virginia, 1:47.61
7. Josh Artmann, Texas, 1:47.78
8. Sam Stewart, Texas, 1:48.07
Jonathan Roberts led the way for the Longhorns, leveraging a strong front-half to finish in 1:44.87. Texas teammate Ryan Harty, who missed last season with an injury, cruised to a second-place finish in 1:45.13. Given Harty’s 1:43.26 from earlier this season, he is already safely through to NCAA’s in the event.
Nate Carr of West Virginia was just off his lifetime best to snag third place position in 1:45.86. He’ll be joined by teammate David Dixon (sixth, 1:47.61) in the A-final tonight.
Women’s 50 Freestyle
Conference Record: Rebecca Millard, Texas, 21.73 (2017)
Meet Record: Hee-Jin Chang, Texas, 21.87 (2009)
Defending Champion: Rebecca Millard, Texas, 22.03
Top 8 finishers:
1. Rebecca Millard, Texas, 22.29
2. Laura Miksch, Iowa State, 22.60
3. Remedy Rule, Texas, 22.64
4. Julia Nilton, West Virginia, 22.71
5. Anelise Diener, Texas, 22.84
6. Jordan Wheeler, Texas, 22.91
7. Sam Sutton, Texas, 22.93
8. Kennedy Lohman, Texas, 23.14
Conference record holder Rebecca Millard finished well ahead of the field this morning, touching in 22.29, just off her season best. Laura Miksch of Iowa State was next in line, swimming a lifetime best of 22.60 for second place.
Millard is currently sitting 32nd nationally (not accounting for those who won’t compete in the 50 free at NCAA’s, or finals heats from conference meets tonight), so to feel “safe” in qualifying for NCAA’s individually, she’ll be aiming for a low-22 second swim tonight.
Men’s 50 Freestyle
Conference Record: Joe Schooling, Texas, 18.76 (2017)
Meet Record: Joe Schooling, Texas, 18.76 (2017)
Defending Champion: Joe Schooling, Texas, 18.76
Top 8 finishers:
1. Tate Jackson, Texas, 18.99
2. Brett Ringgold, Texas, 19.33
3. Joe Schooling, Texas, 19.51
4. Merwane El Merini, West Virginia, 19.56
5. Sam Neaveill, West Virginia, 19.90
6. Jeremy Nichols, Texas, 19.98
7. Jacob Huerta, Texas, 20.09
8. Luke Bowman, Texas, 20.27
Tate Jackson put together the best swim of the morning on the men’s side, clocking an 18.99 to grab the top spot. Teammates Brett Ringgold and Joe Schooling touched second and third, and will both be in the mix for the win tonight.
West Virginia swimmers Merwane El Merini and Sam Neaveill both swam lifetime bests to finish fourth (19.56) and fifth (19.90), respectively
Here’s who I think has safely qualified for NCs from Texas.
Joe Schooling (A 100 fly)
Townley Haas (A 200 free)
Austin Katz (A 200 back)
Ryan Harty (A 200 back)
Brett Ringgold (A, 100 free)
Sam Pomajevich (A 200 fly)
Tate Jackson (A 50 free)
Jonathan Roberts (safe 200 IM)
Parker Neri (safe 500)
JohnThomas Larson (safe 500)
Jeff Newkirk (safe 200 free)
Biggest unknown – John Shebat.
TATE JACKSON
A cheap farce of a conference meet.
A&M is gone. U of Texas has well over half the finals swimmers. It is a joke to call it the “Big 12 Conference”.
Let UK, WVU, ISU, and TCU compete against teams that are, you know, competitive.
This conference is kind of strange.. there are only like 3 teams and Texas is by far always the most dominant.. in sure this has been discussed before
It’s basically the Texas Intrasquad Meet II, except with less pressure.
Another point that Texas just steamrolls this conference…..500 free 1-7 spread of 4:17.6 to 4:25.30….in any of the top conferences..like B1Gs: Texas #1 would of been 7th. ACCs: 8th.
Texas #7, Austin Katz – B1G: 30th, ACCs: 29th
reflect on that
Nah. I’ll just reflect on Horns going for a 4-peat in March, when it counts.
I’m just touching on the unbalanced nature of this conference. Essentially making it another dual meet for Texas…just with a Trophy and Title rewarded at the end. And where the winning team doesn’t exhibition once the win is imminent (as teams do in dual meets)
Either some schools should join to balance it all out…or the teams should merge with another conference. it isn’t unheard of for conferences to merge championship meets and compete under one name. . . to bring about better competition #just saying
I have little interest in this meet because it’s not competitive at all. Texas has been using this soft meet for years to their advantage. They get to work on turns, starts and race strategies and still easily put seven swimmers in the A final of a 500 free. It’s not fun to watch the other teams get completely demolished. This may as well be exhibition.
Tate Jackson in his 50 (18.99) is the only really good swim from the texas men this morning. I wonder how many of them eased up in the morning and how broken down they are.
I wonder who’s rested and how much. Tate clearly had it this morning. Hope he goes faster tonight. Tate, Brett, and Joe all under 19 would make for a very explosive 200freelay.
Factor in John Shebat. If he’s healthy he can throw down a pretty quick time