The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Invitational
Men's Swimming and Diving posts three wins on day two of Texas Invitational
12.01.2016 | Men's Swimming and Diving
All-America senior Clark Smith notches top national mark in the 500-yard freestyle
AUSTIN, Texas – Two-time defending NCAA champion Texas swept the two relays and added a top national time and victory in the 500-yard freestyle Thursday evening on night two of the Texas Invitational at UT's Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
Texas opened the night by posting the nation's top time in the 200-yard freestyle relay, as sophomore Tate Jackson, junior Brett Ringgold, sophomore John Shebat and senior Jack Conger took the win in 1 minute, 16.73 seconds, good for an NCAA automatic-qualifying cut. Jackson led off in 19.69 before Ringgold split 18.91 on the second leg. Shebat picked up the third leg in 19.28 before Conger anchored in 18.85.
The 500 freestyle "A" final featured a tight race that included the likes of UT senior Clark Smith, the 2015 NCAA champion in the event, plus Texas sophomore Townley Haas, the event's 2016 NCAA champion. In the end it was Smith who held off a late charge from Stanford's Grant Shoults and took the win in 4:11.20, the fastest time in the country this season. Haas placed fifth at 4:14.36.
The Horns held off a formidable threat from USC and claimed a win in the 400 medley relay at 3:05.63, good for an NCAA automatic-qualifying cut. Shebat led off with a 46.62 backstroke split before All-America senior Will Licon split 51.40 on the breaststroke leg. Conger picked up the butterfly in 45.51 before Ringgold anchored the relay to victory in 42.10.
Conger led the Texas contingent in the 50 freestyle with his third-place mark of 19.45. All-America junior Brett Ringgold took sixth at 19.54 while sophomore Tate Jackson placed eighth at 19.81.
Texas sophomore Sam Stewart added an eighth-place mark of 1:46.75 in the 200 IM "A" final.
Texas awaits day three of the Texas Invite on Friday. The preliminary round opens at 10 a.m. CT with finals set for 6 p.m. CT. Longhorn Network will air tape-delayed coverage beginning at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
