The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Championships
Men's Swimming & Diving sweeps first day's events
02.22.2012 | Men's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 22, 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Texas Men's Swimming & Diving team won all three events on the first day of the Big 12 Swimming & Diving Championships in Columbia, Mo.
After taking first place in all three events to open the four-day meet, the Longhorns sit in second place with 115 points, eight behind Texas A&M.
"This night is usually the worst night of the meet for us and we get better after that but we had one of the fastest medley relays we have ever done on this night and our 800 free relay is what we need in the final eight of the NCAAs," said head coach Eddie Reese.
The Longhorns got off to a great start with a win in the 200 medley relay. Junior Cole Cragin swam a fast 21.26 in the opening leg to give Texas an edge by nearly a full body length. Eric Friedland, Neil Caskey and Jimmy Feigen were able to keep UT in front for the victory in 1:25.02. The time was the third fastest nationally this season.
Senior Drew Livingston captured the first of three diving events over the course of the four days the championships take place. Livingston scored 390.60 points for his fifth career Big 12 Championship and second in the 1-meter event. He also won the event in 2010. Fellow senior Matt Cooper earned fourth place with 364.85 points.
"It feels good to win even though nobody was really happy with the way they dove tonight," said Livingston. "It is early in the meet and come Friday everybody will bring their "A" game so it was nice to come out in front in this group tonight and I have to keep building on it for the 3-meter."
UT capped off the evening by swimming the fastest time in the nation in the 800 freestyle relay with a 6:19.28. They are the only team to break 6:20.00 this season. The four swimmers making up the winning relay were Dax Hill, Neil Caskey, Kip Darmody and Clay Youngquist.
The preliminary rounds on Thursday begin at 10 a.m. with the 200 freestyle relay starting things off. The finals take place beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday's event schedule also includes the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle and women's 1-meter diving.
