2017 Big 12 ChampionshipsFeb 23, 2017 by Maclin Simpson
Schooling Ties Ian Crocker's Big 12 Meet Record In 50 Freestyle With 19.18
Schooling Ties Ian Crocker's Big 12 Meet Record In 50 Freestyle With 19.18
Day two prelims at the 2017 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Texas featured the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, and 50 freestyle.
Watch the 50 Free showdown LIVE on FloSwimming here.
Day two prelims at the 2017 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Texas are in the books. We saw some fast swimming in the 500-yard freestyle, 200 IM, and 50 freestyle on both the men's and women's sides and a lot of good races were set up for tonight.
For full results of this morning's prelims session, CLICK HERE. Make sure you stay tuned tonight and WATCH LIVE, exclusively on FloSwimming, as all of these swimmers vie for Big 12 titles.
As expected, Texas' Joanna Evans took the top seed this morning with a 4:42.07. The sophomore was 2.5 seconds off her fastest time this season, so look for her to get under the 4:40 barrier tonight. Teammate Lauren Case was in second place with a 4:45.73, and rounding out the top three was fellow Longhorn Quinn Carrozza with a 4:45.95. The wildcard to get on the podium tonight will be West Virginia senior Emma Skelley, who threw down a 4:46.54 -- good for fourth place this morning.
Clark Smith of Texas took his teammate Jeff Newkirk for a ride in their preliminary heat of the 500. Smith has already safely qualified for the NCAA Championships, but Newkirk needed to drop some time to improve his chances. Newkirk rode the lane line and drafted off of Smith to throw down a season-best time of 4:16.88. Smith took the top seed with a 4:16.31. Newkirk's time will likely be on the bubble to qualify once all is said and done, but if he can get down in the 4:14 to 4:15 range tonight, he will be in a good position. Townley Haas, the defending NCAA champion in this event, took the third spot after cruising to a 4:22.21.
After Jack Conger of Texas blasted a 19.20 in his preliminary heat and jumped out of the water like he just went for a Sunday stroll, his teammate Joseph Schooling said, "Watch this." Schooling popped off a 19.18, which tied Ian Crocker's Big 12 meet record from 2004, and jokingly held his hand to his ear while smiling at Conger. Neither of these swimmers are known for their 50 freestyle speed, but they will battle it out tonight for pride and a Big 12 title. Tate Jackson, also of Texas, rounded out the top three with a 19.62. The wildcard to sneak into the top three tonight will be Merwane Elmerini of West Virginia, who unloaded a 19.75 this morning to claim the fourth seed
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Day two prelims at the 2017 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Texas are in the books. We saw some fast swimming in the 500-yard freestyle, 200 IM, and 50 freestyle on both the men's and women's sides and a lot of good races were set up for tonight.
For full results of this morning's prelims session, CLICK HERE. Make sure you stay tuned tonight and WATCH LIVE, exclusively on FloSwimming, as all of these swimmers vie for Big 12 titles.
500 FREESTYLE
Women
As expected, Texas' Joanna Evans took the top seed this morning with a 4:42.07. The sophomore was 2.5 seconds off her fastest time this season, so look for her to get under the 4:40 barrier tonight. Teammate Lauren Case was in second place with a 4:45.73, and rounding out the top three was fellow Longhorn Quinn Carrozza with a 4:45.95. The wildcard to get on the podium tonight will be West Virginia senior Emma Skelley, who threw down a 4:46.54 -- good for fourth place this morning.
Men
Clark Smith of Texas took his teammate Jeff Newkirk for a ride in their preliminary heat of the 500. Smith has already safely qualified for the NCAA Championships, but Newkirk needed to drop some time to improve his chances. Newkirk rode the lane line and drafted off of Smith to throw down a season-best time of 4:16.88. Smith took the top seed with a 4:16.31. Newkirk's time will likely be on the bubble to qualify once all is said and done, but if he can get down in the 4:14 to 4:15 range tonight, he will be in a good position. Townley Haas, the defending NCAA champion in this event, took the third spot after cruising to a 4:22.21.200 IM
Women
This one was all Madisyn Cox of Texas. The senior took the top seed by almost four seconds with a 1:55.71. Her Longhorns teammate Nora McCullagh grabbed the second spot in 1:59.46, and Devin Newton of TCU rounded out the top three with a 2:01.15. Don't expect anyone to challenge Cox tonight as she holds the fastest time in the country this season with a 1:52.83 -- the only one to break the 1:53 barrier so far.Men
John Shebat will be a force to be reckoned with at the NCAA Championships next month. The Texas sophomore just threw down an unshaved 1:43.35. When he touched at the 100 in 47.13, Longhorns coach Eddie Reese simply smiled and shook his head as if he were equally humored and impressed by the quick front-end speed. When Shebat fully peaks, he will be a major contender in this race as well as the backstroke events. Shebat's teammate Sam Stewart touched second in 1:45.15 and the defending NCAA champion in this event, Will Licon, finished third with a 1:46.64.
50 FREESTYLE
Women
To no surprise, Rebecca Millard of Texas easily took the top seed in the women's 50 freestyle with a 22.07. Millard has already put up a sub-22-second time this season, so look for her to get back under that barrier again tonight. Her teammate Claire Adams claimed the second spot with a 22.46, and Laura Miksch of Iowa State threw down a season-best time by almost half a second with a quick 22.71 -- good for third place going into tonight's final.
Men
After Jack Conger of Texas blasted a 19.20 in his preliminary heat and jumped out of the water like he just went for a Sunday stroll, his teammate Joseph Schooling said, "Watch this." Schooling popped off a 19.18, which tied Ian Crocker's Big 12 meet record from 2004, and jokingly held his hand to his ear while smiling at Conger. Neither of these swimmers are known for their 50 freestyle speed, but they will battle it out tonight for pride and a Big 12 title. Tate Jackson, also of Texas, rounded out the top three with a 19.62. The wildcard to sneak into the top three tonight will be Merwane Elmerini of West Virginia, who unloaded a 19.75 this morning to claim the fourth seed--