The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Championships
No. 3 Women's Swimming and Diving takes second at Big 12 Championships
02.27.2010 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 27, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- No. 3 Texas scored a pair of individual wins from sophomores Leah Gingrich and Kathleen Hersey and a new school record from freshman Laura Sogar, as the Longhorns secured a second-place finish Saturday evening at the 2010 Big 12 Championships.
Texas A&M claimed the conference title with 1,002 points, and the Longhorns took second with 903 points. Missouri placed third with 484 points, and Kansas took fourth with 416 points. Iowa State took fifth with 338 points, and Nebraska placed sixth with 261 points. Sogar was selected as the Big 12 Women's Newcomer of the Meet.
Sophomore Katie Riefenstahl opened the final session for Texas with a third-place showing in the 200-yard backstroke at 1:54.42, good for a NCAA "B" cut. Freshman Jessica Guro added on a second-place finish in the consolation final with a NCAA "B" cut of 1:57.85.
Sophomore Karlee Bispo led the Horns in the 100 freestyle with a second-place time of 48.24, good for a NCAA "B" cut. Junior Brie Powers placed sixth in 49.77, and junior Adrienne Woods took eighth in 50.34.
Gingrich secured the first of two individual wins on the night for Texas, as she claimed the 1,650 freestyle with a NCAA "B" cut of 16:09.66. Senior Susana Escobar placed fifth in 16:27.97, and junior Natalie Sacco placed sixth in 16:29.54.
Sogar led the way for Texas in the 200 breaststroke with a second-place, NCAA automatic cut of 2:10.31 in the 200 breaststroke, which broke the school record of 2:10.35 set by Elizabeth Tinnon at the 2005 Big 12 Championships. Freshman Spindrift Beck placed third in 2:11.68, and senior Alexi Spann took fifth in 2:12.43. Junior Carlye Ellis claimed the bonus final in 2:14.65.
Hersey smashed the Big 12 meet record in the 200 butterfly with a winning time of 1:53.68, the second-fastest time in college swimming. The mark broke Gingrich's meet record of 1:55.18 set at the 2009 Big 12 Championships. Senior Traci Van Matre placed seventh in 1:55.18, and freshman Caroline McElhany took eighth in 2:03.04. Freshman Leah Reinhardt won the bonus final in 2:02.60.
Freshman Maren Taylor led the Texas divers by taking third in the platform event with 300.35 points. Freshman Diana Wilcox placed fourth with 279.85 points, and freshman Samantha Holland took ninth with 207.10 points.
The Longhorns capped the meet with a second-place showing in the 400 freestyle relay with a NCAA "B" cut of 3:16.02.
POST-MEET COMMENTS
Texas head swimming and diving coach Kim Brackin
"It's disappointing to lose. We certainly have it as one of our goals to win the Big 12 Championship this season. But, we've always kept in mind our ultimate goal, which is to compete at our best at the NCAA Championships and contend for a team title there. That being said, I thought this was a great meet. It helped us. Texas A&M gave us a great meet, and it will help these women who will go on to Purdue to swim at the NCAA Championships. It will make us better competitors.
"We raced really well and put up some good times. I feel very excited about the next three weeks. I am disappointed for these girls. They hate to lose more than they love to win. It's frustrating for them, but they will hold their heads up high. We're proud of them."
2010 Big 12 Championships
200 Backstroke
3 Katie Riefenstahl - 1:54.42 (NCAA "B" cut)
200 Backstroke (Consolation Final)
2 Jessica Guro - 1:57.85 (NCAA "B" cut)
100 Freestyle
2 Karlee Bispo - 48.24 (NCAA "B" cut)
6 Brie Powers - 49.77 (NCAA "B" cut)
8 Adrienne Woods - 50.34
100 Freestyle (Consolation Final)
3 Kelsey Amundsen - 50.79
5 Bethany Adams - 50.92
1,650 Freestyle
1 Leah Gingrich - 16:09.66 (NCAA "B" cut)
5 Susana Escobar - 16:27.97 (NCAA "B" cut)
6 Natalie Sacco - 16:29.54 (NCAA "B" cut)
200 Breaststroke
2 Laura Sogar - 2:10.31 (NCAA "A" cut)
3 Spindrift Beck - 2:11.68 (NCAA "B" cut)
5 Alexi Spann - 2:12.43 (NCAA "B" cut)
200 Breaststroke (Bonus Final)
1 Carlye Ellis - 2:14.65 (NCAA "B" cut)
3 Kierstin Thornhill - 2:16.26 (NCAA "B" cut)
200 Butterfly
1 Kathleen Hersey - 1:53.68 (NCAA "A" cut) 1:55.18
7 Traci Van Matre - 2:01.51
8 Caroline McElhany - 2:03.04
200 Butterfly (Bonus Final)
1 Leah Reinhardt - 2:02.60
2 Katie Hamilton - 2:03.05
Platform Diving
3 Maren Taylor - 300.35
4 Diana Wilcox - 279.85
9 Samantha Holland - 207.10
400 Freestyle Relay
2 Texas - 3:16.02 (NCAA "B" cut) Bispo 48.61, Amundsen 49.52, Riefenstahl 49.17, Hersey 48.72
