Texas Men and Women Remain in First Place at the 2006 Big 12 Championships

COLUMBIA, Mo. February 24. ONCE again, defending Big 12 champion Texas is leading both the men's and women's competition at the 2006 Big 12 Swimming & Diving Championships at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.

The Texas men have compiled 731.50 points overall, after winning every swimming event on Friday. Texas A&M is in second place, followed by Missouri in third.

Sophomores Matthew McGinnis and Matthew Lowe led the Longhorn effort tonight by defending their titles in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke, respectively. McGinnis finished with an NCAA Championships' automatic-qualifying time of 1:34.82 seconds, while Lowe posted a national consideration time in his event.

Garrett Weber-Gale (Texas) claimed two more gold medals in the 100 backstroke and as the anchor leg of the 200 freestyle relay team. The relay team of Tyler O'Halloran, McGinnis, Jeremy Harris and Weber-Gale recorded an NCAA automatic-qualifying time in addition to the conference victory. Overall, Weber-Gale has earned 10 Big 12 crowns in three seasons.

Coming off of his first individual league title, freshman Michael Klueh added another victory after placing first in the 400 individual medley. Fellow teammate David Donaldson was tabbed the 100 butterfly champion to complete the UT sweep in the pool.

In diving action, Eric Sehn (Texas A&M) won his second straight one-meter diving title. The 2005 Big 12 Championships Outstanding Diver of the Meet is 5-0 at league meets, and would complete the sweep again with a win on the platform on Saturday.

On the women's side, UT paces the field with 683.50 points while Texas A&M, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa State fill the remaining spots, respectively.

Friday's action was highlighted by the Aggie women capturing four of the seven finals. A&M was led by freshmen Triin Aljand, Codie Hansen, and Julia Wilkinson , who earned individual titles, including Hansen and Wilkinson surpassing the automatic-qualifying standard. Hansen ended the win streak of three-time champion Kristy Siminski (Texas). Both Aljand and Hansen have three victories at their debut league contest, whileWilkinson has two.

Aljand joined Christine Marshall, Britney Pesek and Rebecca Sturdy on the 200 free relay that defeated Texas, which had won it eight consecutive times prior to Friday's race. The squad turned in a national automatic-qualifying time in the win as well.

Elizabeth Tinnon (Texas) tallied the 11th Big 12 triumph of her career with a win in the 100 breaststroke. It marks the third straight year that Tinnon has won this event. Stephanie Anderson (400 IM) and Mary Yarrison (three-meter dive) also finished first in their events to keep UT in the lead heading into the final day of competition.

The Texas men have won all nine of the previous Big 12 team championships, and the Longhorn women have claimed seven of the nine titles.

The final day of competition will resume Saturday at 10 a.m. with preliminary action , while the finals are scheduled for 6 p.m. The Big 12 team champions will be crowned at the conclusion of the event in addition to the post-meet individual honors voted on by the conference coaches.

For complete results visit the Big 12 web site at big12sports.com.

TEAM STANDINGS

Men

1. Texas: 731.50

2. Texas A&M: 557.50

3. Missouri: 469.00

Women

1. Texas: 683.50

1. Texas A&M: 527.00

3. Kansas: 310.00

4. Missouri: 276.00

5. Iowa State: 236.50

6. Nebraska: 223.00

Attendance: 708

FRIDAY CHAMPIONS

! – Big 12 Championships Meet Record; $ – NCAA Championships Automatic-Qualifying Time; # – NCAA Championships Consideration Time; NCAA Zone Diving Qualifying Score

Men

One-Meter Diving: Eric Sehn, So., Texas A&M – 396.05^

400-Yard IM: Michael Klueh, Fr., Texas – 3:48.49#

100-Yard Butterfly: David Donaldson, Jr., Texas – 47.82#

200-Yard Freestyle: Matthew McGinnis, So., Texas – 1:34.82$

100-Yard Breaststroke: Matthew Lowe, So., Texas – 53.78#

100-Yard Backstroke: Garrett Weber-Gale, Jr, Texas – 47.70#

200-Yard Freestyle Relay: Texas – 1:18.41$

(Tyler O'Halloran, Matthew McGinnis, Jeremy Harris, Garrett Weber-Gale)

Women

400-Yard IM: Stephanie Anderson, Jr., Texas – 4:16.41#

100-Yard Butterfly: Triin Aljand, Fr., Texas A&M – 54.07#

200-Yard Freestyle: Codie Hansen, Fr., Texas A&M – 1:46.93$

100-Yard Breaststroke: Elizabeth Tinnon, Jr., Texas – 1:00.73$

100-Yard Backstroke: Julia Wilkinson, Fr., Texas A&M – 54.46$

Three-meter Diving: Mary Yarrison, So, Texas – 337.50^

200-Yard Freestyle Relay: Texas A&M – 1:30.05$

(Christine Marshall, Britney Pesek, Rebecca Sturdy, Triin Aljand)

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