2017 BIG 12 SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, February 22 – Saturday, February 25
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center- University of Texas
- Prelims 10 AM/ Finals 6 PM (Central Time)
- Defending Champs: Texas (20x) (results)
- Championship Central
- Live Results
Shortly after the home crowd saw a Big 12 Record go down on the women’s side, Longhorn fans were in for another record-breaking swim in the men’s 500 free. Texas All-Americans Clark Smith and Townley Haas battled it out, with Smith pulling away on the back half to win gold in 4:11.11. That cleared the former Big 12 Meet Record of 4:11.41 set by Michael Klueh in 2008.
Defending NCAA champ Haas wound up 2nd in 4:12.90, while teammate Jeff Newkirk turned in a personal best 4:15.99 to take bronze. Jonathan Roberts finished 4th in 4:24.41 to give the Longhorns a sweep of the top 4 spots.
Smith’s Splits By 100:
- 1st 100- 47.99
- 2nd 100- 51.02
- 3rd 100- 51.25
- 4th 100- 51.39
- 5th 100- 49.46
- Final Time- 4:11.11
Smith was a few seconds off his Conference Record, which he set at a blazing 4:08.82 at last season’s Texas Invite. He was quite a bit faster than he was at the 2016 conference meet, though, beating his 4:16.31 from that meet by over 5 seconds.
Hopefully someone finally puts the record at a very high level. Like Haas in the 200 free last year. Time for someone to go around 4.05.
This is Clark Smith’s year! Love to see what he and Tawnley will do!
No doubt the 500 will be a great race!
we said that last year as well…
Lets see what they do this summer as well for Team Usa – could be great indeed