The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
USA Swimming AT&T Winter National Championships
Sogar crushes school record at AT&T Winter Nationals
11.30.2012 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 30, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas - Texas senior Laura Sogar smashed her school record in the 100-yard breaststroke to highlight day two for the Longhorns Friday at the USA Swimming AT&T Winter National Championships.
The Exeter, R.I., native claimed the event in 58.32 seconds, which shattered her previous UT standard of 58.83 set at the 2011 Big 12 Championships in Austin. Sogar's mark of 58.32 also broke Jessica Hardy's meet record of 58.41 from the 2010 AT&T Winter Nationals.
Sogar split 27.60 and was nearly even with Arizona's Ellyn Baumgardner through the first 50 yards. Sogar covered the final 50 yards in 30.72 seconds on her way to her personal best.
Sogar lowered her school record for the second time after originally breaking Elizabeth Tinnon's previous school record of 59.96. Sogar initially claimed the UT record with a mark of 59.07 at the 2010 Texas Invitational and lowered the mark to 58.83 at the 2011 Big 12 Championships in Austin.
"This didn't surprise me, because Laura has been swimming really well lately," UT head coach Carol Capitani said. "She's confident and she has big goals."
Only the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 100 backstroke could top Sarah Denninghoff Friday evening, as the Arizona transfer took second in the event for Texas in 52.57. Texas-Ex Kathleen Hersey, the school-record holder in the event, placed fourth in 52.84. Ellen Lobb placed second in the 100 backstroke "C" final in 54.31.
Texas opened the finals session by taking third in the 200-yard medley relay in 1 minute, 38.67 seconds. Denninghoff led off in 25.10 before Sogar split 27.23 on the breaststroke leg. Skylar Smith picked up the butterfly in 24.00 before Lobb anchored in 22.34.
Kaitlin Pawlowicz put together a second consecutive great night of racing, as she posted a personal best of 4:09.98 for fifth place in the 400 IM. The mark fell well under the NCAA provisional-qualifying standard of 4:19.39.
Kelsey Amundsen took seventh in the 100 butterfly championship final in 52.93. Lobb used a strong back half to cruise to victory in the 100 butterfly consolation final in a personal best of 52.92.
Denninghoff added a second-place time of 1:44.96 in the 200 freestyle consolation final, while Samantha Tucker took third in 1:46.03. Texas-Ex Karlee Bispo, UT's record holder in the 200 freestyle, placed third in the championship final in 1:43.99.
Texas capped the evening by taking second in the 800 freestyle relay, as the quartet of Smith, Denninghoff, Kelsey LeNeave and Tucker finished in 7:07.87.
UT also sent a contingent of swimmers to the Ohio State Invitational. Victoria Cassidy placed fourth in the 500 freestyle "C" final in 4:51.75.
"We had a great Texas night," Capitani added. "It started with Kaitlin's (Pawlowicz) 400 IM, and the butterflyers did a heck of a job. The 200 freestylers were doing well, and then you had Sarah Denninghoff come out and swim four events. They decided they wanted to be one of the best teams in the pool tonight. They swam tough, and that's all I want them to do."
Day three of the AT&T Winter National Championships begins Saturday at 9 a.m. Central.
