While Texas may not be as dominating as they were in yesterday’s events, they claimed all but one top seed for tonight. The biggest one by far was Lily Moldenhauer‘s 100 backstroke. Her 51.55 brought quite the spark to a rather quiet morning at the Jamail Texas Swim Center. That time brings Moldenhauer an automatic ticket to NCAAs, a new conference record, as well as a new meet record.
400 IM
Chelsie Miller of Kansas got things going this morning, racking in the top seed with a 4:12.10. Three Longhorns came in just behind her: Madisyn Cox (4:13.86), Victoria Cassidy (4:14.96), and Kaitlin Pawlowicz (4:15.73). A pair of Horned Frogs grabbed the fifth and sixth spot: Carley Stevens (4:20.59) and Emily Creighton (4:23.64). Alison Mofit from Kansas and Marissa Engel of Iowa State tied for the last two spots in a time of 4:24.08.
On the men’s side, Texas did grab the top two seeds with freshmen Austin Vacek (3:47.78) and Will Lincon (3:51.77) but will be outnumbered in the final tonight. West Virginia’s Nate Carr is sitting third with a 3:52.75 while Grant Rogers from the Texas B squad grabbed fourth with a 3:53.34. TCU and West Virginia picked up the last four spots with John Remetta (3:54.89), Jake Querciagrossa (3:56.03), Michael Franz (3:57.47), and Chase Williams (3:57.65).
100 Fly
Texas once again grabbed the top seed, but will see some different faces in finals. Lily Moldenhauer and Ellen Lob finished 1-2 this morning, 52.80 and 53.13 respectively. Julie Ogden of West Virginia sits third with a 54.31 while her teammate, Eva Burlingham, is right behind her with a 54.34. Brynne Wong will be the only other Longhorn in the final, seated fifth with a 54.39. Amanda Paulson (54.42), Sonia Filatova (55.17), and Leah Pfitzer (55.27) round out the top eight.
Texas and West Virginia will swim somewhat of a dual meet race, being the only two teams representing the top eight. Tripp Cooper (46.32), Jack Conger (46.50), and Clark Smith (47.29) are sitting 1-2-3 for Texas. West Virginia got on the board with a fourth seed from Bryce Bohman‘s 47.37. Matt Ellis (47.79), John Murray (47.79), and Chris Scheaffer (48.31) bring Texas the 5-7 spots. Austin Green rounds it out with the eight spot in a time of 48.70.
200 Free
This was the Texas event of the morning for the women, grabbing spots 1-5. Sam Tucker (1:45.87), Alex Hooper (1:46.85), Kelsey Leneave (1:46.97), Tasija Karosas (1:47.11), and Shelby Webber (1:47.48) led the way. Kansas’ Haley Molden grabbed the sixth spot with a 1:48.86 while Karyl Clarete of Iowa State snagged seventh, 1:48.86. Morgan Sharp of Kansas closed out the top eight in a time of 1:49.07.
The Longhorn men followed suit, grabbing the first five spots with Clay Youngquist (1:34.98), Jake Ritter (1:35.20), Bobby Button (1:35.48), Sam Lewis (1:35.90), and Keith Murphy (1:36.23). Deaton Davenport of West Virginia was able to get in for the sixth spot in a 1:37.22 while Anthony McMurry of TCU was seventh with a 1:38.12. Ross Glegg of WVU snuck in for eighth with a 1:38.39.
100 Breaststroke
Gretchen Jaques got the top seed for Texas by over a second with a 1:0048. Imelda Wistey was a 1:01.62 for second, Jordan Surhoff third with a 1:01.75, and Skylar Smith with a 1:01.92 for fourth. Jenelle Zee of West Virginia grabbed the fifth spot with a 1:02.48 while a senior from Kansas, Allison Lusk, was sixth in a 1:02.64. Bryce Hinde (1:02.94) and Ali Stearns (1:03.01) were seventh and eighth.
Again, Texas grabbed the top three spots with Imri Ganiel (53.93), Ian Carbone (53.94, and Matt Korman (54.08), but will be outnumbered in the top heat tonight. Christopher Brill of West Virginia sealed up the fourth spot in a 54.93. Ford Story (55.14) of TCU was fifth, Peter Murto (55.91) of WVU sixth, Garret Hills (56.33) of TCU seventh, and Jake Iotte (56.38) of WVU was eighth.
100 Backstroke
As stated before, Moldenhauer brought some life to the prelims party with an NCAA A cut, a new conference and a meet record, and the top seed in the 100 back. Her 51.55 gives her the top spot by over three seconds and is certainly one of the nation’s top times. Yuleya Kuchkarova (54.64) was a distance second and Rebecca Baxley of Texas was third in a 54.70. Rounding out the 4-6 seeds were Cheyenne Low (55.23), Hannah Angell (55.47), and Lyndsie Gibson (55.57). Two TCU ladies locked up the final spots in the A final with Ashley Alspaugh (55.61) and Ali Polhill (55.86).
Even with Jack Conger declaring a false start, Will Glass was able to secure the top spot for Texas with a 47.21. Cooper Robinson of TCU was second in a 47.31 and Patrick Murphy third, 47.52. Bryce Bohman of WVU sealed the fourth spot with a 47.81 while Kip Darmody of Texas was fifth with a 48.23. Aaron Gustafson of Texas’ B squad grabbed sixth in a time of 48.65. Andrew Marsh and Josh Mangus closed out the top eight with times of 48.70 and 48.98, respectively.
This will be the event to watch tonight. Will Moldenhauer be able to go even faster? The men’s top eight is only separated by a second and a half and will be on the closer events of the evening.
Tune in tonight as finals go off at 6 PM!