Feb. 21, 2003
AUSTIN, Texas -
On day three the sleeping beast that is the men's and women's swimming and diving teams awoke. Both teams chipped away at the leads of the teams ahead of them at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships. The women enter the day in fifth place (145 points) only two and a half points behind fourth place Kansas (147.5) and ten points behind third place Iowa State (155). The men's team trailed Texas A&M for second place. The men have 495 points, the Aggies 612 and the Longhorns have 708.
After day three the women's team passed Iowa State and trailed Kansas for third place by four and a half points (309.5-305). Texas was still leading with 732 points, Texas A&M in second with 475. Iowa State (265) and Nebraska (223.5) were fifth and sixth respectively. On the men's side the Tigers had 495 points and sit in third.
The first swimming event of the evening was the men's 400 individual medley. Senior Matt Ferrarelli led from the start and easily won the race with a season's best and NCAA provisional qualifying time of 3:48.99, finishing ahead of Texas A&M's Scott Mueller (3:53.21). Ferrarelli became the first two-time Big 12 Champion in Missouri swimming and diving history with his victory. Ferrarelli is the only male swimmer to win a Big 12 Championship. He was the 400 individual medley champion at the 2001 Big 12 Championships. Last season he was unable to defend his championship due to an injury.
"It feels really good to come back and win it this year after sitting out last season because of my injury," said Ferrarelli. "Now, I'm hoping this victory carries over to the NCAAs."
Ferrarelli led a group of Tigers to the medal stand as senior Dane Pedersen finished sixth (4:07.17), junior Dustin McKnight finished seventh (4:07.58) and sophomore Jacob Thomas finished eighth (4:11.33). Junior Eric Sullins won the consolation championship with a career best 4:13.52
In the women's 400 individual medley sophomore Belinda Wood finished second in the consolation championship with a career best 4:26.27. Her time ranks fourth on the all-time list.
Radu Miclaus provisionally qualified for the NCAAs with his fourth place finish in the 100 butterfly. His time of 48.69 set a new career best and ranks him third on the school's all-time list. Junior Tyler Belanger won the consolation championship in the 100 butterfly setting a new career best with a time of 50.04.
Freshman Liz Schoborg put aside any post meet nervousness in the preliminaries of the 100 butterfly. She broke the school record held by Jeanna Willi (56.10) with a time of 55.52 in the prelims. In the finals she finished fifth with a time of 55.66. In the men's 200 freestyle sophomore Ryan Searby and freshman Wade Pennington each finished seventh and eighth respectively to win their first Big 12 medals. Searby's time of 1:41.83 set a new career best.
Sophomore Matt North finished tied for sixth in the finals of the 100 breaststroke with a time of 56.33. In the prelims North moved up from fifth to fourth on the school's all-time list with a time of 56.10.
The women's 100 breaststroke offered one of the more exciting races of the day. Junior Sarah Lo and senior Tiffany Bohon battled each other for the lead, but Texas' Amanda Larence snuck up behind the two on the last turn and won with a time of 1:03.08 just ahead of Lo's 1:03.29 (third on the school's all-time list) and Bohon's 1:03.95. In the prelims Bohon broke the old school record held by teammate Mariona Costa with a time of 1:03.17.
Freshman Chris Lukas finished eighth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 50.89.
With little rest Lo hit the pool again competing in the women's 100 backstroke. She finished fourth with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 55.84. Her time tied her with Sarah Samuel (1997) for third on the school's all-time list. Sophomore Amanda Morford finished eighth with a time of 57.62. Senior Ellen Cross won the consolation championship with a career best time of 57.23, which ranks fifth on the all-time list.
In the diving well, three Tiger divers made the finals of the 3-meter dive. Senior Jamie Sweeney finished fourth with a score of 537.90, Freshmen Evan Watters (490.65) and Zac Metcalf (482.15) finished seventh and eighth respectively.
The men's 400 medley relay finished second in the 400 medley relay. The team of Ferrarelli, North, Miclaus and Belanger finished with a time of 3:18.97. The time ranks third on the school's all-time list.
The last event of the night saw the women's 400 medley relay team of Lo, Bohon, Schoborg and Andrea Nigh finish third with a NCAA provisional time of 3:45.34. The time set a new school record breaking the previous record set earlier this year by these same swimmers.
The Tigers return to the pool tomorrow for the final day of competition at the Championships. The preliminaries start at 10:30 a.m. with the finals starting at 5:30 p.m. Complete results are will be available after each day at the Big 12 website at www.big12sports.com.
MEN'S TEAM SCORES 1. Texas - 708 2. Texas A&M - 612 3. Missouri - 495
WOMEN'S TEAM SCORES 1. Texas - 732 2. Texas A&M - 475 3. Kansas - 309.5 4. Missouri- 305 5. Iowa State - 265 6. Nebraska - 223.5