Five NCAA ‘A’ Cuts Posted on Day Two of Texas Invitational

Photo Credit: Griffin Scott

AUSTIN – Five NCAA ‘A’ cuts were posted during the second night of finals at the Texas Invitational, as the USC and Texas women’s 200 medley relays, the Texas men’s 200 medley relay, Texas’ Gretchen Jaques and Arizona’s Kevin Cordes punched their tickets to NCAAs. Both the Texas men’s and women’s teams hold the lead in the team standings, with USC in second on the women’s side and Arizona in second in the men’s meet heading into day three.

Texas Women’s Press Release

NCAA automatic-qualifying cuts in the 200-yard medley relay and the 100 breaststroke highlighted day two for the Longhorns Friday evening at the Texas Invitational at UT’s Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.

Texas opened the meet’s second night with a dominant performance in the 200-yard medley relay, as the Longhorns claimed the top two spots. UT’s “A” relay featuring seniors Sarah Denninghoff and Gretchen Jaques, sophomore Brynne Wong and freshman Rebecca Millard took the win in 1 minute, 37.68 seconds, good for the second-fastest time in the country this season.

The Horns’ “B” relay featuring sophomores Tasija Karosas and Jordan Surhoff, freshman Mimi Schneider and senior Kelsey LeNeave placed second in 1:38.73.

Senior Kaitlin Pawlowicz produced a pair of solid swims in the 400 individual medley and took a close second in the “A” final at 4:10.82. Olympian Haley Anderson of Trojan Aquatics took the win in 4:10.44.

LeNeave led the Horns in the 200 freestyle “A” final with her 1:46.76 for sixth place. Millard followed in seventh at 1:48.11 while senior Shelby Webber placed eighth in 1:49.21.

Jaques joined former NCAA champion Laura Sogar to become the second Longhorn ever to clear 59 seconds in the 100 breaststroke. Jaques clocked 58.94 in the preliminary round and won the event in the finals at 58.78, good for the No. 2 time in college swimming and a NCAA automatic-qualifying cut.

Denninghoff returned after leading off the 200 medley relay to win the 100 backstroke in 52.06, good for the fourth-fastest time in the country and ninth-fastest time in school history. Karosas took fifth place in 53.28. Texas wrapped the evening by taking second in the 800 freestyle relay at 7:11.41.

The third and final day of the Texas Invitational gets underway Saturday at 10 a.m. Central. The finals are set for 6 p.m. Central and will air live on Longhorn Network.

Texas Men’s Press Release

Texas All-America sophomore Will Licon registered the nation’s top time in the 400-yard individual medley, and UT’s 200 medley relay posted a top national time to highlight day two for the Horns Friday at the Texas Invitational.

Texas opened the meet’s second night with strong showings in the 200-yard medley relay, as the Longhorns claimed the top two spots. UT’s “A” relay with senior Kip Darmody, junior John Murray, sophomore Jack Conger and freshman Brett Ringgold took the win in 1:23.88, good for the fastest time in the country this season and the No. 2 time in school history. UT’s “B” relay with freshmen Joseph Schooling and Austin Temple, senior Tripp Cooper and junior Matt Ellis took second in 1:26.09.

Licon produced the nation’s fastest time in the 400 individual medley on his way to victory in 3:42.48, just off of the NCAA “A” qualifying cut of 3:42.40. The El Paso native held off a late charge from Arizona’s Michael Meyer, who settled for second in 3:42.90. Junior John Martens notched a personal best with his third-place mark of 3:45.31.

Senior Clay Youngquist logged the top finish among current college swimmers in the 200 freestyle “A’ final with his second-place time of 1:34.05. His 1:34.02 from the morning preliminary round marked the third-fastest time in the country this season. Sophomore Clark Smith clocked a personal best of 1:34.07 in prelims and took fifth in the final at 1:34.26.

Licon made an impressive return in the 100 breast after winning the grueling 400 IM. Licon placed third in the 100 breast at 52.90, which matched his time in the preliminary round. Texas sent a quartet of Longhorns to the 100 backstroke “A” final, and Darmody led the UT contingent with his second-place time of 46.20, the third-fastest time in the country this season. Conger took fourth in 46.68 while Ringgold placed sixth in 47.48. Schooling added an eighth-place mark of 48.37.

The third and final day of the Texas Invitational gets underway Saturday at 10 a.m. Central. The finals are set for 6 p.m. Central and will air live on Longhorn Network.

Results: Texas Invitational, Day Two

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