The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Championships
02.26.2016 | Women's Swimming and Diving
All-America junior Tasija Karosas adds the 100-yard backstroke records to her 200-yard records from December.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas All-America junior Tasija Karosas set school and Big 12 records in the 100-yard backstroke, and the Longhorns stretched their lead by winning all seven events Friday on day three of the 2016 Big 12 Championships.
Karosas now holds the UT and Big 12 backstroke records for herself after winning the 100-yard backstroke in 51.40 seconds. The swim topped the previous school, Big 12 and Big 12 meet record of 51.48 by Lily Moldenhauer at the 2014 Big 12 Championships.
"I know what I need to during practice and in kick sets," Karosas said. "I knew I had to hit the walls and keep my tempo, and I knew I would have a good race if I did that."
Karosas set school and Big 12 records in the 200 backstroke two months ago at the Texas Invitational, and she has the opportunity to lower them once more Saturday night. Junior Rebecca Baxley placed third in the same 100 backstroke race Friday in 54.64.
"The biggest thing with those records is bringing Texas back to the glory days," Karosas added. "This is our job, to sweep the records off the board and bring Texas a No. 1 finish. I am really proud and happy to be a part of that."
Senior Meghan Houston kicked off the night by winning her second Big 12 title in as many nights, as she claimed the three-meter diving crown with 345.60 points. The Austin native collected her second league title on three-meter (2013) and third Big 12 championship overall. Senior Kristina Hoffmann produced an impressive 315.80 points for third place while freshman Meghan O'Brien placed fourth at 313.50.
All-America junior Madisyn Cox broke her own meet record in the 400 individual medley and scored her second straight Big 12 title in the event at 4:04.67, good for the No. 4 time in the country this season. The Lubbock native scored her second league crown and meet record in as many nights after doing the same Thursday in the 200 IM. Freshman Nora McCullagh took third in the 400 IM final at 4:12.55 while junior Maggie D'Innocenzo placed fourth at 4:18.73.
Sophomore Mimi Schneider collected her first individual Big 12 championship and captured the 100 butterfly at 52.65, just off of her personal best of 52.54 from the morning preliminary round. Junior Brynne Wong added a fourth-place mark of 53.83 while freshman Remedy Rule placed fifth at 53.89.
Freshman Quinn Carrozza scored her first Big 12 individual title and led a one-two Texas finish in the 200 freestyle at 1:44.99. Freshman Joanna Evans, the 500 freestyle champion from day two, took second at 1:46.95.
Freshman Olivia Anderson registered her first Big 12 individual title and won the 100 breaststroke at 1:00.06, a personal best. Junior Jordan Surhoff took runner-up honors at 1:01.13 while sophomore Bethany Leap placed third at 1:01.70.
The Longhorns wrapped the night with a win in the 200 freestyle relay, where Schneider, sophomore Rebecca Millard and freshmen Brooke Hansen and Remedy Rule clocked 1:28.69.
Texas leads the Big 12 Championships with 707 points, and Kansas holds second at 434.5. Iowa State sits in third with 386.5 points, and West Virginia is in fourth place with 361 points. TCU is in fifth place with 278 points.
The final day of the Big 12 Championships gets underway with a preliminary round Saturday at 10 a.m. CT.
POST-MEET COMMENTS
Texas head coach Carol Capitani
On Tasija Karosas' school and Big 12 records in the 100 backstroke: Tasija had a solid morning swim and she figured out ways to get faster. She listened to what we told her and to have things work out so well is great. I am happy for her because she has been eyeing that record for a while.
On sweeping the seven events tonight: During our team meetings this week we were adopting the phrase "Do your job". We wanted to come here and do our job without a lot of pomp and circumstance. We were solid in every race tonight. I know Nora (McCullagh) and Maggie (D'Innocenzo) wanted to be faster in the 400 IM, and Madisyn (Cox) still has one of the fastest times in the country with that swim tonight.. She held her turf and that's fun to see because that's not an easy event on the third day.
Quinn (Carrozza) had her best time of the season, and then Mimi (Schneider) went 52 (seconds) again in the 100 fly. That told her that the her the 52.5 in prelims wasn't a surprise – it was consistent. In the 100 breast, Olivia (Anderson) almost broke a minute, and Beth (Leap) had a best time, and she deserved it.
