Huskers Take a Pair of Second-Place Finishes

College Station, Texas - Lauren Bailey moved into the No. 2 spot on Nebraska's all-time top five in the 500-yard freestyle, and took one of two second-place finishes as the first individual finals of the Big 12 Championships were completed Thursday night in College Station, Texas.

The sophomore from San Mateo, Calif., swam a career-best and NCAA-provisional qualifying time of 4:47.08 in lane one, and led the race through 300 yards before Texas freshman Macie Garrett passed Bailey. Garrett began to pull away before Bailey gave one last surge and nearly caught the Longhorn in the final 25 yards.  Bailey is now No. 2 on Nebraska's all-time list, trailing only Shandra Johnson who swam a 4:43.48 in 1998.

"Lauren (Bailey) had everything to gain in the outside lane and went after it," Nebraska Head Coach Pablo Morales said.  "She was aggressive early and nobody went with her.  Macie Garrett is a great swimmer and caught Lauren, but Lauren battled back.  It was great excitement and probably the most exciting race of the evening."

Junior Amie Buoy starred on the three-meter board for the Huskers, taking her third-straight top three finish at the Big 12 Championships.  Buoy scored a 473.50, and was second to only Rosie Whiting of Texas A&M.  Junior Becky Johnson finished eighth with a score of 419.55.

"I was really happy with my performance," Buoy said.  "My scores were better the last two years, but I like to help the team out with a second-place finish so we can accomplish our goals down here."

Freshman Lynn Siemert also created a bright spot for the Huskers on Thursday night.  In the first Big 12 Championships of her career, the Morrison, Ill., native captured a seventh-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle finals with a time of 23.69.  Siemert became the first Husker to place in the top eight at the Big 12 Championships since 2001.  Sophomore Michelle Criss and junior Alex King also collected points in the 50-yard freestyle with 14th- and 16th-place finishes.

In the final women's event of the night, the 400-medley relay team of sophomore Emilee Crawford, junior Rachel Schlatter, freshman Betsy Grover and sophomore Kate Wheeler set a season-best time of 3:48.24 to place fifth.

Nebraska moved up to third in the team standings at the conclusion of Thursday night's events with 180 points.  The Kansas Jayhawks were fourth with 166.

Competition resumes tomorrow at 10 a.m. with the 400-yard individual medley, where Bailey attempts to defend her 2004 Big 12 title.  Finals will begin at 6 p.m.

Thursday Finals Results<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

(<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska finishes)

 

500-yard Freestyle

Finals

2. Lauren Bailey, Nebraska, 4:47.08 (NCAA Provisional Mark) (Career Best) (second all-time at NU)

8. Kate Wheeler, Nebraska, 4:55.92

 

Consolation Finals

10. Mackenzie Clark, Nebraska, 4:55.92 (Career Best)

11. Casey Schnack, Nebraska, 4:56.80

15. Esmie Holderman, Nebraska, 5:00.07

 

Bonus Finals

20. Emily Becker, Nebraska, 4:59.99 (Career Best)

23. Katie Bowden, Nebraska, 5:01.94 (Career Best)

 

200-yard IM

Bonus Finals

18. Bailey Ingles, Nebraska, 2:05.16 (Career Best)

22. Adrienne Goodman, Nebraska, 2:08.04

 

50-yard Freestyle

Finals

7. Lynn Siemert, Nebraska, 23.69 (Career Best)

 

Consolation Finals

14. Michelle Criss, Nebraska, 24.05 (Career Best)

16. AlexKing, Nebraska 24.24

 

Bonus Finals

24. Kate Dulgar, Nebraska, 24.56

 

400-yard Medley Relay

5. Nebraska, 3:48.24 (Season Best)