Texas A&M’s Breeja Larson Downs NCAA Record in 100 Breast — Updated With Coach Steve Bultman Quote

COLUMBIA, Missouri, February 24. DURING prelims at the Big 12 Championships being held in Columbia, Mo., Texas A&M's Breeja Larson scorched the pool with an NCAA record in the women's 100-yard breaststroke. Larson, however, was unable to match her time during a victorious final swim.

Larson clocked an astonishing time of 57.92 during qualifying, shaving time off Annie Chandler's NCAA record of 58.06 set at the 2010 NCAA Championships for the Arizona Wildcats. Larson became just the second swimmer in history to crack 58 seconds, as the American and U.S. Open record stands at 57.77 as set by Tara Kirk back in March 2006. Larson's previous best heading into today had been a seventh-ranked 58.51.

"It was an awesome swim without a doubt," Aggie head swimming coach Steve Bultman said. "She was in a racing suit, but she's nowhere close to being rested or shaved. She's a racer. She believes in herself and she believes that she can accomplish anything. She surprised some people today. It surprised me that she did it right now."

Event 25 Women 100 Yard Breaststroke
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Big 12 Meet: ! 58.83 2011 Laura Sogar, Texas
Big12 Conf: * 58.51 2011 Breeja Larson, Texas A&M
NCAA 'A': ~ 59.65
NCAA 'B': + 1:02.98
NCAA: 58.06 2010 Ann Chandler, Arizona
Name Age School Seed Prelims
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=== Preliminaries ===

1 Breeja Larson 19 Texas A&M 58.68 57.92*q
r:+0.82 12.71 27.34 (14.63)
42.32 (14.98) 57.92 (15.60)

Larson returned during the evening with a 58.39 to win the finale with the entire crowd standing to watch a potential American record. Earlier in the night, Larson split a 57.11 during A&M's 400 medley relay.

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