Huskers Qualify for Thursday Night's Finals

College Station, Texas - Nine Nebraska swimmers set career bests in their respective events, and three qualified for the finals as the first preliminary events were completed at the Big 12 Championships Thursday morning.

Bailey and Wheeler led a group of seven Nebraska swimmers in the 500-yard freestyle, and qualified for Thursday night’s finals with eighth- and ninth-place finishes.  Sophomore Casey Schnack (4:55.28) was just one spot out of the finals with a 10th place finish, but qualfied for the consolation finals along with juniors Mackenzie Clark (4:57.95, 16th) and Esmie Holderman (5:00.98, 18th).  Both Schnack and Clark set career bests.  Junior Emily Becker qualified for the bonus finals with an 21st-place showing in a career best time of 5:02.11.

The Huskers also received a strong showing in the 50-yard freestyle.  Freshman Lynn Siemert set a career best by cracking the 24-second mark with a time of 23.67 and qualified for the finals in her first Big 12 Championship meet by finishing ninth.  Sophomore Michelle Criss and junior Alex King both swam times of 24.05 to tie for 16th place and qualify for the consolation final.  Criss' time broke her previous best at Nebraska by over half a second.  Junior Kate Dulgar also qualifed for Thursday night's action by tying for 25th place in a career-best 24.31.  Dulgar qualified for the bonus finals after an injury resulted to a swimmer that finished ahead of her, and moved her into the 24th and final slot.

“I thought my race was fast but I think I can go faster in the finals,” said Siemert.  “I was satisfied though.  I remember looking up at the times and seeing Alex (King) and Michelle’s (Criss) times and was like ?wow’, because those are girls I train and swim with.  I am really proud of all of us.”

In the 200-yard individual medley, sophomore Bailey Ingles finished 19th in 2:06.63.  Ingles was followed by freshman Adrienne Goodman who also qualified for the bonus finals with a 24th-place finish in a career-best time of 2:08.02.

Finals action will begin at 6 p.m.

Thursday Preliminary Results

(Nebraska finishes)

 

500-yard Freestyle

(1-8 Finalists, 9-16 Consolation Finalists, 17-24 Bonus Finalists)

 

Finals

8. Lauren Bailey, Nebraska, 4:53.35 (NCAA Provisional Mark)

9. Kate Wheeler, Nebraska, 4:55.27 

 

Consolation Finals

10. Casey Schnack, Nebraska, 4:55.28 (Career Best)

16. Mackenzie Clark, Nebraska, 4:57.95 (Career Best)

18. Esmie Holderman, Nebraska, 5:00.98

 

Bonus Finals

21. Emily Becker, Nebraska, 5:02.11

 

200-yard IM

Bonus Finals

19. Bailey Ingles, Nebraska, 2:06.63

24. Adrienne Goodman, Nebraska, 2:08.02 (Career Best)

 

Other NU finishers 

26. Betsy Grover, Nebraska, 2:09.31 (Career Best)

29. Haley Koss, Nebraska, 2:10.55 (Career Best)

31. Rachel Schlatter, Nebraska, 2:12.30 (Career Best)

 

50-yard Freestyle

Finals

9. Lynn Siemert, Nebraska, 23.67 (Career Best)

 

Consolation Finals

16. Michelle Criss, Nebraska, 24.05 (Career Best)

16. AlexKing, Nebraska 24.05

 

Bonus Finals

25. Kate Dulgar, Nebraska, 24.31 (Career Best)

 

Other NU finishers 

32. Emilee Crawford, Nebraska, 24.72

38. Lana Baker, Nebraska, 26.30

- Diana Torres, Nebraska, x24.68