2017 MEN’S BIG 12 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
The pre-Big 12 Championships time trial session produced a couple of noteworthy swims today, chief among them a 51.15 from senior Will Licon in the 100 breast.
That swim will certainly only heighten discussion over whether Licon should choose that event over the 400 IM at the NCAA Championships. Licon’s 51.15 would have won last year’s NCAA title, beating the 51.29 put up by Missouri’s Fabian Schwingenschlogl. The flipside, of course, is that Schwingenschlogl has already better that time this year with his 51.07 from the Mizzou Invite back in November. It really depends just how rested and shaved Licon is as to whether he has a shot to win the event at NCAAs.
Licon won the 400 IM two years ago, but lost the event last year to Cal’s Josh Prenot. Prenot has graduated but American record-holder Chase Kalisz is back in the mix, which should make things tougher for Licon to repeat. Licon is also the defending NCAA champ in the 200 IM and 200 breast, so while he could try a 400 IM/100 breast double on Friday of NCAAs, that appears a less-inviting option as it would involve dropping one of those title defenses for an event where he isn’t a major favorite.
It seems likely, then, that Licon will swim the 400 IM instead at Big 12s, given his entry into the 100 breast time trial. Stay tuned to the meet this week for more indicators on what Licon’s NCAA event selection may look like.
One other notable swim was Jon Roberts‘ 1:44.49 in the 200 IM. That’s a drop of almost four seconds from Roberts’ previous best and would rank him 18th in the NCAA. Still, it appears more likely Roberts will swim the 500 at Big 12s and NCAAs after swimming that race at NCAAs last year and taking 20th.
A few other big swims from the time trial session:
- Texas senior Jordan Surhoff went 1:00.95 in the 100 breast, just a few tenths off what she went at NCAAs last year (1:00.55) and at the Texas Hall of Fame Invite a few months ago (1:00.76).
- Longhorn sophomore Quinn Carrozza was 1:54.22 to win the 200 back. That’s eight tenths off a lifetime-best, but is more than a second faster than she’s been in that event all season.
- Kansas’s Libby Walker cracked two minutes for the first time this year in the 200 fly, going 1:59.64. That’s more in line with what she went at Big 12s last year (1:59.36).
- Fellow Jayhawk Hannah Driscoll went 1:53.41 in the 200 free, faster than she’s been since early 2015.
Heck yeah.
He was wearing a really old suit that he borrowed from one of his BYU brothers
Contrary to popular belief, Licon will indeed opt out of NCAAs to focus on his lifelong passion in entering the Masters tournament. Soon-to-be first American record holder and Green Jacket holder in history baby!
His chances for a win are much better in the 100 breastroke. I’m sorry. There’s Chase Kalisz, Mark Szaranek, Jay Litherland, and Andrew Seliskar. He could get first or fifth.
That’s a great sign for their medley relay. He has to go at least a 50.5 if Texas is going to beat Cal. There have already been two people at 3:46 in the 400 IM, and at this point most people agree, so he should just go for the 100. In the 400 IM I don’t think he could get past Kalisz, especially with the injury he had earlier in the season. However, the 100 breast is still “weaker” event, and at worst he’d be second. Also, Jonathan Roberts is a beast.
We knew Licon had some speed from relays, but I was not expecting anything this fast from a flat start at this point in the season, as big 12s is basically just like any other meet for texas. This proves he should swim the 100 breast over the 400im at NCAAs, where he has a bigger chance at winning against a weakish field rather than facing guys like Kalisz. Also this makes things very tough for Cal in the 4×100 medley relay, as they will have around a 1.8 second lead after the back, but Licon can make back .6 of that, Schooling could get .8 back, and Conger could get the rest.
I can see texas with
… Read more »
I’m a Texas fan, but thats utterly underestimating Jensen with his track record
He would have just squeaked by to win the 2015 D3 ncaa 100 breast with this swim. Still a great swim.
That’s because Andrew Wilson is a monster… he may put up the fastest college time, period, this year. I would say it’d be a close race between each of the NCAA divisions, but Lobanov for DII seems to have regressed just a bit since his first year.
He’s a big fish in a small pond
He’s a big fish in any sized pond.
Word on the block is Lobanov is lazy and leaves practice if he’s not feeling it. I feel as though Licon and Wilson just grind
To be fair Wilson is far above the level of any d3 athlete possibly in history.
Ya beat me to it
Next year Temple, next year