Huskers Place Third in 800-Freestyle Relay

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Columbia, Mo. ? The 800-yard freestyle relay team of junior Kate Wheeler, freshman Jenny Toler and juniors Michelle Criss and Lauren Bailey earned the first relay medal in Head Coach Pablo Morales’ Nebraska career with a third-place finish on the first day of the 2006 Big 12 Championships.

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The team's time of 7:23.22 surpassed its season-best time from the Minnesota Invitational by eight seconds. Wheeler and Bailey each swam career-best times as Wheeler led off with a time of 1:49.4 while Bailey swam the anchor leg in 1:48.8. The 800-free relay time is eighth all-time in NU history, while Wheeler's 200-free split is sixth all-time in NU history.

 

“We rely a lot on Kate freestyle-wise,” Morales said. “She trains for the 200-free the least but she looked great and got us off to a good start. Then Jenny and Michelle kept us within striking distance and Lauren finished it with a great split. It was really a great way to open up the meet.”

 

Nebraska’s 200-yard medley relay team also broke its season best with a time of 1:45.18. The team of junior Bailey Ingles, senior Rachel Schlatter, freshman Christina Yemm and sophomore Lynn Siemert placed sixth.

 

The Huskers sit in fifth place with 58 points and will continue the Big 12 Championships Thursday morning with preliminary heats beginning at 10 a.m.