Huskers Make Strides Heading into Final Day of Big 12 Championships

College Station, Texas ? Behind seniors Danielle Stansbury and Lauren Bailey, and the fastest 200 freestyle relay since 2001, the Huskers had its strongest session through three days Friday night at the 2007 Big 12 Championships in College Station, Texas.

 

Nebraska had nine swimmers and divers in scoring finals events Friday night, and took advantage of the opportunity, beginning with Stansbury, who earned her second top-eight finish on the boards in two days with a total of 254.65 on the one-meter dive. The Lincoln, Neb., native placed fourth on the three meter Thursday and has given the Huskers a strong lift in the team standings to close the gap on Iowa State for fifth place to 3 1/2 points (221-217.5).

 

Sophomore Courtney Jolly contributed valuable points as well, finishing seventh (251.60) in her first Big 12 Conference finals event of her two-year career.

 

In the 400-yard individual medley, senior Lauren Bailey lowered her career best and third-fastest time in school history to 4:17.30, as she placed third in an NCAA-provisional qualifying effort. It was the fourth consecutive year that Bailey placed in the top five in the event at the Big 12 Championships, despite facing some stiff competition as Texas A&M’s Melissa Hain set the Big 12 Championships meet record in 4:11.11. Senior Bailey Ingles placed seventh in the consolation finals (15th overall) in 4:27.22.

 

The Huskers’ fast start began when the Huskers’ 200 freestyle relay team turned in the most impressive performance in recent history as it earned a fifth-place finish in 1:34.75. The team of sophomore Jenna Stroud, senior Michelle Criss, freshman Hailey Dean and junior Lynn Siemert defeated Kansas by 0.37 seconds after Siemert anchored the Big Red to the finish line for its fastest time in six years.

 

The Huskers’ strongest contingent of swimmers in consolation finals came in the 100 breaststroke, where freshman Hailey Dean won the race (9th overall) in 1:03.93, just ahead of freshman Kaitlin Arntz in 10th (1:04.57) and junior Adrienne Goodman in 12th (1:04.92). A third freshman, Mariah Hutchinson added another 10th-place finish in the 100 butterfly in 56.31, while freshman Kelsey Ida placed 15th in the 100 backstroke in 58.00.

 

The Huskers will compete in the final day of the 2007 Big 12 Championships on Saturday. Preliminary races begin at 10 a.m. and finals will start 6 p.m.

 

Team Standings After Day Three:

1. Texas A&M-653

2. Texas-633

3. Kansas-293.5

4. Missouri-268

5. Iowa State-221

6. Nebraska-217.5

 

Friday Finals Results

(Nebraska finishes)

 

One-Meter Dive

(1-8 Finalists)

6. Danielle Stansbury, Nebraska, 254.65

7. Courtney Jolly, Nebraska, 251.60

 

200-yard Freestyle Relay

5. Nebraska, 1:34.75

 

400-yard Individual Medley

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

Finals

3. Lauren Bailey, Nebraska, 4:17.30^

 

Consolation Finals

15. Bailey Ingles, Nebraska, 4:27.22*

 

Bonus Finals

18. Casey Schnack, Nebraska, 4:31.13*

 

100-yard Butterfly

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

Consolation Finals

10 (Tie). Mariah Hutchinson, Nebraska, 56.31*

 

Bonus Finals

23. Christina Yemm, Nebraska, 59.16

24. Sarah Broker, Nebraska, 59.46

 

200-yard Freestyle

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

 

Consolation Finals

15. Jenny Toler, Nebraska, 1:53.36

16. Kate Wheeler, Nebraska, 1:54.63

 

Bonus Finals

24. Jenna Stroud, Nebraska, 1:56.48

 

100-yard Breaststroke

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

Consolation Finals

9. Hailey Dean, Nebraska, 1:03.93*

10. Kaitlin Arntz, Nebraska, 1:04.67*

12. Adrienne Goodman, Nebraska, 1:04.92*

 

100-yard Backstroke

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

Consolation Finals

15. Kelsey Ida, Nebraska, 58.00

 

Bonus Finals

23. Emilee Crawford, Nebraska, 59.68

 

* Season Best

^ Career Best