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College Station, Texas - The 800 freestyle relay team earned a fourth-place finish in a season-best time of 7:23.63 to lead the Nebraska swimming and diving team Wednesday night on the first day of the 2007 Big 12 Championships in College Station, Texas.
The team of sophomore Jenny Toler, senior Lauren Bailey, freshman Mariah Hutchinson and senior Kate Wheeler completed the 800 freestyle relay (7:23.63) nearly 12 seconds faster than the team’s old season best mark of 7:35.58 from the Minnesota Invitational on Nov. 18. Nebraska also matched its seeding as they had the fourth fastest time in the event coming into the Big 12 Championships.
The 200 medley relay, which included three freshmen in Kelsey Ida, Kaitlin Arntz, Hutchinson and junior Lynn Siemert, also set a season-best time of 1:45.44 to place sixth. Nebraska’s previous best was 1:47.32, also set at the Minnesota Invitational. Wednesday night’s time marked the eighth time this season the Huskers have went under the 1:50.00 mark in the 200 medley relay.
In addition, Nebraska swam B and C relay teams in the 200 medley, with the squad of senior Bailey Ingles, freshman Hailey Dean, and sophomores Christina Yemm and Jenna Stroud finishing second out of 10 non-scoring relays with a time of 1:46.38. The C relay (senior Emilee Crawford, junior Adrienne Goodman, freshman Sarah Broker and sophomore C.J. Bray) was third in 1:47.32.
Nebraska’s efforts on day one earned the Huskers 56 points and places them fifth in the team standings following two events. IowaState is sixth with 54 points.
Following Wednesday’s night session, the Big 12 Championships will now kick into full gear over the next three days with preliminary events beginning at 11 a.m. and finals starting at 6 p.m. each day through Saturday.
200 Medley Relay
6. Nebraska, 1:45.44 (Kelsey Ida, Kaitlin Arntz, Mariah Hutchinson, Lynn Siemert)
800 Freestyle Relay
4. Nebraska, 7:23.63 (Jenny Toler, Lauren Bailey, Mariah Hutchinson, Kate Wheeler)
Team Standings After Day One:
1. Texas A&M-74
1. Texas-74
3. Missouri-62
4. Kansas-60
5. Nebraska-56
6. Iowa State-54