The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Big 12 Championships
No. 2 Women’s Swim and Dive sweeps four events on day two of Big 12 Championships
02.23.2023 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Texas has swept seven events through the first two days of competition.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 2 Women's Swimming and Diving swept four events to highlight Thursday's second day of the Big 12 Conference Championship at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
Erica Sullivan opened the evening's finals session by winning the 500 freestyle for the second consecutive year, posting a time of 4:36.70 to narrowly defeat runner-up and teammate Olivia Bray, who touched the wall with a personal-best 4:37.71.
Kelly Pash followed by winning her fourth-straight gold in the 200 IM, clocking a 1:53.94 to secure the championship and join Longhorn great Madisyn Cox as the only athletes to win the title four times.
Grace Cooper added a win in the 50 free, the third consecutive crown for the junior, posting a time of 22.29 for the win.
The quartet of Bray, Anna Elendt, Emma Sticklen and Pash wrapped up Thursday's action with a victory on the 400 medley relay with a time of 3:26.42, missing the conference and meet record by one-tenth of a second.
The Big 12 Championships resume on Friday with prelims beginning at 10 a.m. and finals starting at 6 p.m. Prelim and final sessions will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. TEXAS – 386
2. TCU – 202
3. Iowa State – 193
4. West Virginia – 179
5. Kansas – 152
HIGHLIGHTS
- Texas swept the top-three spots in all three individual events on Thursday and claimed the top-four times in two events.
- The Longhorns had the top-five finishers in the 500 free. Sullivan earned the victory in 4:36.70, followed by Bray (4:36.71), Abby Pfeifer (4:44.47) and Olivia McMurray (4:44.69).
- Bray's time in the 500 free moved her into the Texas All-Time Top 10 as the number four performer in the event in program history.
- UT went 1-2-3 in the 200 IM with Pash picking up the win in 1:53.94, Sticklen placing second in 1:57.88 and Dakota Luther finishing third in 1:59.50. Channing Hanley also competed in the Championship Final, taking seventh in 2:02.24.
- In the 50 free, Cooper won it in 22.29, Ava Longi was the runner-up with a personal-best 22.49, Kyla Leibel took third in 22.62 and Bridget Semenuk finished fourth in 22.66.
- The Longhorns have won 15 consecutive 50 free titles, 13-straight 200 IM championships, each of the last 11 400 medley relays and 10 500 free championships in a row.
FRIDAY EVENTS
Prelims – 10:00 a.m. CT
100 fly
400 IM
200 free
100 breast
100 back
3-meter springboard (1:45 p.m.)
Finals – 6:00 p.m. CT
100 fly
400 IM
200 free
100 breast
100 back
3-meter springboard
200 free relay
2023 Big 12 Championship Meet Records
800 free relay: Kelly Pash, Kyla Leibel, Olivia Bray, Erica Sullivan – 6:56.49
1-meter: Hailey Hernandez – 367.70
2023 Big 12 Championship Event Winners
200 medley relay: Olivia Bray, Anna Elendt, Emma Sticklen, Grace Cooper – 1:34.21
800 free relay: Kelly Pash, Kyla Leibel, Olivia Bray, Erica Sullivan – 6:56.49
1-meter: Hailey Hernandez – 367.70
500 free: Erica Sullivan – 4:36.71
200 IM: Kelly Pash – 1:53.94
50 free: Grace Cooper – 22.29
400 medley relay: Olivia Bray, Anna Elendt, Emma Sticklen, Kelly Pash– 3:26.42
Players Mentioned
