The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Championships
02.25.2016 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Longhorns break school and league marks in the 400 medley relay, nab second record relay in as many nights.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 7 Texas broke a school and Big 12 relay record and swept the five events contested Thursday on day two of the 2016 Big 12 Championships.
Texas wrapped the busy second night of competition with its second school record in as many nights. The quartet of juniors Tasija Karosas and Madisyn Cox and sophomores Mimi Schneider and Rebecca Millard claimed the 400-yard medley relay in 3 minutes, 30.43 seconds.
The relay topped the previous Big 12 and school record of 3:30.52 set by Lily Moldenhauer, Laura Sogar, Kelsey Amundsen and Karlee Bispo at the 2011 Big 12 Championships.
"It was just a group of four girls who had great mindsets," Millard said. "Going into it we just knew that we were going to do something special. Last night we were talking about this and we were ready to make it happen. Three-fourths of the relay is not even tapered yet, so it is really exciting to see us take this relay to the NCAA Championships."
Freshman Joanna Evans became the first Longhorn in 24 years to eclipse the 4:40 mark in the 500-yard freestyle, as she clocked 4:39.97 to nail down her first Big 12 title. It marked the first sub-4:40 swim for a Longhorn since the 1992 NCAA Championships, when Erika Hansen, Tobie Smith and Whitney Hedgepeth all broke 4:40 in the same race.
"It's a great thing," said Evans of clearing the 4:40 mark. "I am glad I had a good swim and could get momentum going for the rest of the Longhorns. Hopefully we can knock out some really good swims the rest of the week."
Freshman Quinn Carrozza took second in the 500 free championship final at 4:42.28 while junior Maggie D'Innocenzo placed sixth at 4:53.13.
All-America junior Madisyn Cox won her third straight Big 12 crown in the 200 individual medley posted a meet record at 1:54.31. The swim topped the previous meet mark of 1:55.15 set by Karlee Bispo at the 2011 Big 12 Championships. Freshman Nora McCullagh took second at 1:58.19 while junior Jordan Surhoff placed seventh at 2:03.25.
Millard collected her first league title in the 50 free and led a herd of five Longhorns atop the final standings at 22.20. Schneider took second at 22.44 while freshman Brooke Hansen placed third at 22.81. Sophomore Sam Sutton placed fourth at 22.87 while junior Brynne Wong took fifth at 22.89.
Senior Meghan Houston won her first Big 12 crown on one-meter and secured her second career league title with her 321.30 points in the one-meter finals. Freshman Meghan O'Brien took a close second with 314.85 points while freshman Sofia Rauzi placed third at 294.95. Senior Kristina Hoffmann took eighth place with 266.25 points.
Day three of the Big 12 Championships gets underway with a preliminary round Friday at 10 a.m. CT.
ADDITIONAL POST-MEET COMMENTS
Texas head coach Carol Capitani
On Joanna Evans clearing the 4:40 mark in the 500 freestyle: That has been an elusive goal for the program, and obviously for a long time. I was talking to one of our alumni, and 24 years ago they had three people go under 4:40. They were all Olympians, and they were tough. And it doesn't mean that 4:39 is one of the top times in the country, but I am really proud of Joanna and that is a great start.
She has grown up so much. She and Quinn [Carrozza] both put Texas on their backs and raced. I thought both of them might be under (4:40) tonight, but we still have little bit of time to go faster in the NCAA's, and we will see what happens. That was a fun night and it was good to get that monkey off of our back and to keep chipping away."
On the 200 IM & 50 free: I really like Madisyn (Cox) and Nora (McCullagh) getting up there and racing together. They train together in the IM and Nora had her best time by a second Madisyn is right at her best time and faster than she went last year at the NCAA's. She knows she goes faster in a big show and she had a great night. I think all across the board, the way [Rebecca] Millard threw down the 50 and then stood back up and did that 100 anchor (on the 400 medley relay)…that's when you know the belief is there."
