2023 Big 12 Championships: Day 4 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
• Friday Prelims Recap
• Friday Finals Live Recap

The 2023 Big 12 Championships wrap up Saturday with the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, and platform diving on the schedule for this morning’s prelims. Tonight’s session will also feature timed finals of the 1650 freestyle and 400 free relay.

WOMEN’S 200 BACK – PRELIMS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:50.50
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:57.07
• Meet Record: 1:51.09 – Olivia Bray (Texas), 2022
• Big 12 Record: 1:49.91 – Tasija Karosas (Texas), 2017
• 2022 Champion: Olivia Bray (Texas) – 1:51.09

Top 8:

1. Olivia Bray (Texas) – 1:52.70
2. Liz Richardson (Iowa State) – 1:59.01
3. Dewi Blose (Kansas) – 1:59.28
4. Paige Dressel (West Virginia) – 1:59.89
5. Lezli Sisung (Kansas) – 1:59.97
6. Emily Knorr (West Virginia) – 2:00.12
7. Madi Dohrn (Iowa State) – 2:00.79
8. Rylee Moore (TCU) – 2:00.99

Texas junior Olivia Bray went more than six seconds faster than the rest of the field during the 200 back prelims with a 1:52.70 to kick off the session, putting herself in prime position to defend her title here. Last year, she won this event with a meet-record 1:51.09, more than six seconds ahead of TCU’s Rylee Moore and West Virginia’s Paige Dressel, who qualified eighth and fourth, respectively, this morning.

Iowa State senior Liz Richardson (1:59.01) and Kansas senior Dewi Blose (1:59.28) took the third and fourth qualifying spots, both just slightly off their seed times.

MEN’S 200 BACK – PRELIMS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:39.13
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:44.82
• Meet Record: 1:38.61 – Ryan Harty (Texas), 2019
• Big 12 Record: 1:36.42 – John Shebat (Texas), 2019
• 2022 Champion: Carson Foster (Texas) – 1:39.42

Top 8:

1. Carson Foster (Texas) – 1:40.50
2. Ethan Harder (Texas) – 1:40.79
3. Justin Heimes (West Virginia) – 1:45.07
4. Charlie Crosby (Texas) – 1:46.04
5. Jamin Harlan (West Virginia) – 1:46.92
6. Maverick Bray (West Virginia ) – 1:47.73
7. Edgar Cicanci (TCU) – 1:48.87
8. Parker Hughes (TCU) – 1:49.06

Texas senior Ethan Harder threw down a new lifetime best of 1:40.79 to qualify second in prelims behind two-time defending champion Carson Foster (1:40.50), who placed second at NCAAs in this event last year.

Justin Heimes snagged the third qualifying spot with a 1:45.07, nearly a second ahead of Texas freshman Charlie Crosby (1:46.04). Crosby is one of four freshman who qualified for the A-final along with the West Virginia duo of Jamin Harlan (1:46.92) and Maverick Bray (1:47.73) and TCU’s Edgar Cicanci (1:48.87).

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – PRELIMS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 47.18
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 49.44
• Meet Record: 47.46 – Claire Adams (Texas), 2018
• Big 12 Record: 47.32 – Claire Adams (Texas), 2018
• 2022 Champion: Kelly Pash (Texas) – 48.42

Top 8:

1. Kelly Pash (Texas) – 48.12
2. Kyla Leibel (Texas) – 48.82
3. Ava Longi (Texas) – 49.09
4. Bridget Semenuk (Texas) – 49.18
5. Grace Cooper (Texas) – 49.25
6. Jacqueline McCutchan (West Virginia) – 49.36
7. Sienna Schellenger (Texas) – 50.19
8. Ada Szwabinska (West Virginia) – 50.30

Defending champion Kelly Pash sent a warning shot with a 48.12 in prelims, faster than her winning time from last season. Pash could close in on the meet record (47.46), or maybe even the overall Big 12 record (47.32), later today.

Pash led a Texas sweep of the top five spots along with Kyla Leibel (48.82), Ava Longi (49.09), Bridget Semenuk (49.18), and Grace Cooper (49.25). The Longhorns’ performance here reinforces their status as the favorites for the 400 free relay at the end of tonight’s finals session.

A pair of freshmen, Sienna Schellenger of Texas (50.19) and Ada Szwabinska of West Virginia (50.30), also snuck into the A-final as the seventh and eighth seeds behind West Virginia senior Jacqueline McCutchan (49.36).

MEN’S 100 FREE – PRELIMS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 41.64
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 43.59
• Meet Record: 41.26 – Daniel Krueger (Texas), 2020
• Big 12 Record: 41.26 – Daniel Krueger (Texas), 2020
• 2022 Champion: Daniel Krueger (Texas) – 41.49

Top 8:

1. Daniel Krueger (Texas) – 42.28
2. Peter Larson (Texas) – 42.85
3. Luke Hobson (Texas) – 43.43
4. Conner McBeth (West Virginia) – 43.51
5. Kobe Ndebele (Texas) – 43.63
6. Alek Filipovic (Texas) – 43.97
7. Roanoke Shirk (West Virginia) – 44.23
8. Milan Fabian (TCU) – 44.47

Daniel Krueger qualified first in the men’s 100 free prelims with a 42.28 on his quest for a five-peat in this event. Last year, the Texas fifth year triumphed in 41.49, slightly off his Big 12 record of 41.26 from 2020.

Texas teammate Peter Larson was the only other swimmer sub-43 in the heats. By claiming five of the top six seeds, the Longhorns also positioned themselves here as the favorite for the 400 free relay that concludes tonight’s finals session.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – PRELIMS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 2:06.18
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 2:13.89
• Meet Record: 2:03.92 – Anna Elendt (Texas), 2022
• Big 12 Record: 2:03.92 – Anna Elendt (Texas), 2022
• 2022 Champion: Anna Elendt (Texas) – 2:03.92

Top 8:

1. Anna Elendt (Texas) – 2:09.15
2. Lydia Jacoby (Texas) – 2:10.82
3. Mia Cheatwood (West Virginia) – 2:11.65
4. Channing Hanley (Texas) – 2:12.17
5. Chase Davison (Texas) – 2:14.31
6. Lindsey Hosch (Texas) – 2:15.57
7. Claire Chahband (TCU) – 2:16.76
8. Molly Robinson (Kansas) – 2:17.17

After getting edged by Texas freshman Lydia Jacoby for the 100 breast title, Texas junior Anna Elendt got back on top in the 200 breast prelims with a 2:09.15.

Jacoby was more than a second behind with a 2:10.82 to qualify second. We should be in for another exciting showdown tonight between these Longhorns as Jacoby’s season-best time is just a couple tenths slower than Elendt’s.

Meanwhile, West Virginia freshman Mia Cheatwood (2:11.65) figures to battle with Texas sophomore Channing Hanley (2:12.17) for the final spot on the podium.

MEN’S 200 BREAST – PRELIMS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:51.54
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:57.95
• Meet Record: 1:49.89 – Will Licon (Texas), 2017
• Big 12 Record: 1:47.91 – Will Licon (Texas), 2017
• 2022 Champion: Caspar Corbeau (Texas) – 1:51.81

Top 8:

1. Jake Foster (Texas) – 1:53.65
2. Braden Vines (Texas) – 1:54.23
3. Caspar Corbeau (Texas) – 1:54.66
4. Paul DeGrado (Texas) – 1:57.20
5. William Chan (Texas) – 1:57.31
6. Adam McDonald (West Virginia) – 1:57.94
7. Danny Berlitz (West Virginia) – 1:58.23
8. Reilly Keaney (West Virginia) – 1:58.30

Texas senior Caspar Corbeau is seeking a four-peat in the 200 breast, but he’ll have to hold off teammates Jake Foster (1:53.65) and Braden Vines (1:54.23), both of whom qualified ahead of his 1:54.66 in prelims. Those three, who occupied the podium last year with Foster taking second and Vines placing third, were nearly three seconds ahead of the rest of the field this morning.

Paul DeGrado (1:57.20) reached the wall fourth and William Chan (1:57.31) qualified fifth, giving the Longhorns a sweep of the top five seeds heading into tonight’s final.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – PRELIMS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:52.86
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:59.23
• Meet Record: 1:52.03 – Olivia Bray (Texas), 2021
• Big 12 Record: 1:51.18 – Kathleen Hershey (Texas), 2009
• 2022 Champion: Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 1:52.82

Top 8:

1. Dakota Luther (Texas) – 1:54.85
2. Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 1:55.22
3. Winter Craig (Iowa State) – 2:00.91
4. Mia Walters (West Virginia) – 2:01.07
5. Lucia Rizzo (Iowa State) – 2:01.96
6. Amelie Lessing (Kansas) – 2:02.22
7. Lilly Culp (West Virginia) – 2:02.44
8. Lauren Muscbach (West Virginia) – 2:03.40

Texas fifth year Dakota Luther (1:54.85) beat out junior teammate Emma Sticklen (1:55.22) by less than half a second during prelims, previewing what should be a thrilling showdown later today.

The pair came into this race with two of the top three times in the nation this season along with teammate Kelly Pash, nearly 10 seconds ahead of the field’s seed times. Luther, a grad transfer from Georgia, will attempt to spoil Sticklen’s title defense tonight.

The battle for third place could be a tight one between Iowa State junior Winter Craig (2:00.91) and West Virginia sophomore Mia Walters (2:01.07).

MEN’S 200 FLY – PRELIMS

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:40.20
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:46.31
• Meet Record: 1:39.35 – Jack Conger (Texas), 2017
• Big 12 Record: 1:37.17 – Jack Conger (Texas), 2017
• 2022 Champion: David Dixon (West Virginia) – 1:43.64

Top 8:

1. Ryan Branon (Texas) – 1:43.17
2. Sam Artmann (Texas) – 1:43.58
3. Holden Smith (Texas) – 1:45.50
4. Coby Carrozza (Texas) – 1:45.96
5. Cole Crane (Texas) – 1:47.85
6. Spencer Aurnou-Rhees (Texas) – 1:48.13
7. Zach Boley (West Virginia) – 1:48.16
8. Piotr Sadlowski (TCU) – 1:48.61

Texas freshman Ryan Branon ripped a personal-best 1:43.17 to lead prelims, shaving .78 seconds off his previous-best 1:43.95 from the Minnesota Invitational in December.

Branon beat out Texas senior Sam Artmann for the top qualifying spot as the duo was nearly two seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Holden Smith (1:45.50), Coby Carrozza (1:45.96), Cole Crane (1:47.85), and Spencer Aurnou-Rhees (1:48.13) completed a Texas sweep of the top six spots.