<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Columbia, Mo. ? The Nebraska swimming and diving team earned four more top-five individual finishes from Lauren Bailey, Kate Wheeler, Rachel Schlatter and Becky Johnson, as the Huskers ended the third day of the 2006 Big 12 Championships at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Mo., in fifth place with 236.5 points.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
In the 400-yard individual medley, Bailey finished third behind Stephanie Anderson and Amanda Larence from Texas. The top six finishers set NCAA provisional-qualifying marks, and Bailey's time of 4:19.10 places her in contention for a spot at the NCAA Championships. The mark was also her fastest time since winning the Big 12 title as a freshman in the event. In her career, she owns first-, fifth- and third-place finishes in the event.
Juniors Bailey Ingles (13th, 4:28.06) and Casey Schnack (14th, 4:30.84) added top-15 finishes in the event for the Huskers.
Wheeler’s fifth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle was a major improvement from her 14th-place showing a year ago at the Big 12 Championships. The junior was clocked in an NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 1:49.36. Freshman Jenny Toler added a 13th-place showing in 1:52.22 in her first conference meet.
“Lauren and Kate had great swims today,” Head Coach Pablo Morales said. “Every season is different and we really try to balance the training for those two with the different events they swim. We focus on distance freestyle but Lauren is very talented at the individual medley races and Kate in the middle distance. We knew Lauren had a chance to win the 400-IM. She is very capable, but we’ll take third. Kate had a great day also. She had two very good swims and after not even making the finals last year in the 200-free, she battled back. They both had great days and now we turn our focus to the mile for Saturday.”
Rachel Schlatter was one of five Nebraska seniors to compete in the finals this week as she finished fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke, matching her best conference finish in the event from the 2003 conference meet. She swam a career-best, NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 1:03.57 in the prelims, and topped that on Friday night with a time of 1:03.50.
“Rachel’s race was another highlight for the day,” Morales said. “It was really nice to see her swim great against the best competition in the Big 12 and get not one, but two career-bests in the same day. That is a tremendous accomplishment.”
Johnson performed at her highest level since the Minnesota Invite in November, as the senior placed fifth on the three-meter dive with a score of 285.25. It was Johnson’s highest three-meter finish of her career at the Big 12 Championships. The former walk-on finished just ahead of fellow senior Amie Buoy (6th, 283.65). Both senior divers suffered injuries earlier this season before coming through Friday night.
"It has been tough battling through our injuries this year," Johnson said. "It's frustrating at times, but Natasha (Chikina) never let us give up. She just told us to go out there, do your best and have fun because no matter what, everyone was going to be proud of what we have accomplished this year."
Senior Alex King also scored for Nebraska with a 16th-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly (58.08) and the Huskers’ 200-yard freestyle relay finished sixth in a season-best 1:35.64.
The Huskers will compete in the fourth and final day of the 2006 Big 12 Championships on Saturday. Prelims begin at 10 a.m., with finals at 6 p.m.
Friday Preliminary Results
(Nebraska finishes)
400-yard Individual Medley
(1-8 Finalists, 9-16 Consolation Finalists, 17-24 Bonus Finalists)
Finals
3. Lauren Bailey, Nebraska, 4:19.10 (Season Best)
Consolation Finals
13. Bailey Ingles, Nebraska, 4:28.06
14. Casey Schnack, Nebraska, 4:30.84
100-yard Butterfly
(1-8 Finalists, 9-16 Consolation Finalists, 17-24 Bonus Finalists)
Consolation Finals
16. AlexKing, Nebraska, 58.08
Bonus Finals
24. Christina Yemm, Nebraska, 58.61
200-yard Freestyle
(1-8 Finalists, 9-16 Consolation Finalists, 17-24 Bonus Finalists)
Finals
5. Kate Wheeler, Nebraska, 1:49.36
Consolation Finals
13. Jenny Toler, Nebraska, 1:52.22
Bonus Finals
19. Michelle Criss, Nebraska, 1:52.92 (Season Best)
20. Esmie Holderman, Nebraska, 1:53.55 (Season Best)
23. Mackenzie Clark, Nebraska, 1:55.71 (Season Best)
24. Jenna Stroud, Nebraska, 1:56.45 (Season Best)
100-yard Breaststroke
Finals
5. Rachel Schlatter, Nebraska, 1:03.50 (Career Best)
Consolation Finals
11. Adrienne Goodman, Nebraska, 1:05.21
16. Lana Baker, Nebraska, 1:07.07
Bonus Finals
22. Lynn Siemert, Nebraska, 1:11.06
100-yard Backstroke
Bonus Finals
21. Emilee Crawford, Nebraska, 59.81
Three-Meter Dive
(1-8 Finalists)
5. Becky Johnson, Nebraska, 285.25
6. Amie Buoy, Nebraska, 283.65
200-yard Freestyle Relay
6. Nebraska, 1:35.64