Huskers Send Bailey, Stansbury to Finals

College Station, Texas ? Senior Lauren Bailey will swim in the finals of the 500 freestyle for the fourth straight year and five other Huskers, including senior diver Danielle Stansbury, will have a chance to score points in Thursday night’s finals session after completing in Session 2 of the Big 12 Championships on Thursday morning at the Student Recreation Center Natatorium in College Station, Texas.

 

Bailey placed second in preliminaries of the 500 freestyle with an NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 4:47.18. She made her move from fourth with 75 yards to go and is seeded second in the finals behind only Kristen Heiss of Texas A&M (4:46.52).

 

The senior has already made noticeable improvements as she had the 10th fastest time in the 500 freestyle coming into the Big 12 Championships. Her preliminary time of 4:47.18 was over four seconds faster than her previous season best of 4:51.99 from the Minnesota Invitational.

 

The Huskers added another chance to score in the 500 freestyle after senior Kate Wheeler swam the 16th fastest time in the prelims in 4:55.97.

 

Stansbury is Nebraska's second finals qualifier on Thursday night as she placed seventh in the preliminary round on the three meter dive with a score of 265.00. By qualifying for the finals, the Lincoln, Neb. native will achieve a career-best finish after placing 13th and 11th in the event the past two years at the conference meet. Sophomore Courtney Jolly nearly found a spot in the finals but finished ninth (244.45).

 

In addition to Wheeler, the Huskers will have two swimmers in the consolation finals of the 50 freestyle in junior Lynn Siemert and sophomore Jenna Stroud. Both qualified after Siemert was 15th in a season-best 23.98, while Stroud made dramatic improvements with a career-best time of 24.06. She is seeded 16th.

 

Senior Bailey Ingles will also compete in the consolation finals after swimming a season-best time of 2:06.30 in the 200 individual medley. Ingles’ time was the 13th fastest of the preliminary races and she has already guaranteed herself a better finish than the last two years when she finished 18th at both the 2005 and 2006 Big 12 Championships.

 

Four Huskers will swim in the bonus finals in sophomore Christina Yemm (17th, 2:07.19), freshman Kaitlin Arntz (18th, 2:07.39), freshman Hailey Dean (20th, 2:07.83) and junior Adrienne Goodman (23rd, 2:10.83). All four set season-best marks.

 

Freshman Mariah Hutchinson and senior Casey Schnack will swim in the bonus finals in the 500 freestyle after the two teammates battled head-to-head for the top spot in the second heat. Hutchinson (4:59.35) held on for first place by 11 one-hundredths of a second after Schnack (4:59.46) made a late run. Both were season-best marks.

 

Senior Michelle Criss will also swim in the bonus finals after she finished 19th overall in the 50 freestyle with a season-best time of 24.20.

 

Thursday night’s finals 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

2. Lauren Bailey, Nebraska, 4:47.18*

 

Consolation Finals

16. Kate Wheeler, Nebraska, 4:55.97

 

Bonus Finals

20. Mariah Hutchinson, Nebraska, 4:59.35*

21. Casey Schnack, Nebraska, 4:59.46*

 

200-yard IM

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

 

Consolation Finals

13. Bailey Ingles, Nebraska, 2:06.30*

 

Bonus Finals

17. Christina Yemm, Nebraska, 2:07.19*

18. Kaitlin Arntz, Nebraska, 2:07.39*

20. Hailey Dean, Nebraska, 2:07.83*

23. Adrienne Goodman, Nebraska, 2:10.83*

 

50-yard Freestyle

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

 

Consolation Finals

15. Lynn Siemert, Nebraska, 23.98*

16. Jenna Stroud, Nebraska, 24.06^

 

Bonus Finals

19. Michelle Criss, Nebraska, 24.20*

 

3 Meter Diving

7. Danielle Stansbury, Nebraska, 265.00

 

* Season Best

^ Career Best