Hutchinson, Arntz Lead Five Huskers to Saturday Finals

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>College Station, Texas ? Freshmen Mariah Hutchinson and Kaitlin Arntz turned in two of the most remarkable performances by Husker swimmers under head coach Pablo Morales as both qualified for finals events to lead Nebraska during Session 6 Saturday morning at the 2007 Big 12 Championships in College Station, Texas.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Hutchinson’s sixth-place finals qualifying swim of 2:03.13 in the 200 butterfly was the fastest time by a Nebraska swimmer since 2001, while Arntz’ time of 2:18.87 in the 200 breaststroke gave her the last spot in Saturday night’s finals and makes her one of only two Husker swimmers to reach the finals of the event at the conference meet under Morales (also Rachel Schlatter, 2004). The Omaha, Neb., native was seeded 13th in the Big 12 Conference coming into the meet, but bettered her fastest time from the regular season (2:22.15) by more than three seconds.

 

In addition to Hutchinson, senior Bailey Ingles became the third Husker swimmer to qualify for the finals as she finished eighth in the 200 butterfly in 2:05.35. Ingles placed sixth in the 200 fly at the 2006 Big 12 Championships in Columbia, Mo.

 

On the diving boards, senior Danielle Stansbury and sophomore Courtney Jolly continued their outstanding performances this week, as each found a spot in the finals of the platform dive. Stansbury finished fifth with a 205.90 and Jolly was eighth with a score of 195.75. Stansbury placed eighth on the platform at the 2006 Big 12 Championships, whereas Saturday morning marked the first time Jolly had ever competed on the platform during her collegiate career.

 

Two sophomores in Christina Yemm and Jenna Stroud will also give Nebraska points Saturday night, as each will participate in consolation finals races after swimming career-best times in the preliminaries. Yemm finished 12th (2:07.11) in the 200 butterfly, while Stroud was 14th (51.88) in the 100 freestyle.

 

The Huskers trail Iowa State for fifth place in the team standings heading into the final session, 221-217.5.

 

Action will resume at 4 p.m., with heats of the 1,650 freestyle, followed by the finals of the platform dive at 5 p.m. Swimming finals will start at 6 p.m. The competition can be viewed live online by clicking the link at the top of this page.

 

Saturday Preliminary Results

(Nebraska finishes)

 

Platform Diving

(1-8 Finals)

5. Danielle Stansbury, Nebraska, 205.90

8. Courtney Jolly, Nebraska, 195.75

 

200-yard Backstroke

(1-8 Finalists, 9-16 Consolation Finalists, 17-24 Bonus Finalists)

Bonus Finals

20. Emilee Crawford, Nebraska, 2:06.42*

23. Kelsey Ida, Nebraska, 2:07.77*

 

100-yard Freestyle

(1-8 Finalists, 9-16 Consolation Finalists, 17-24 Bonus Finalists)

Consolation Finals

14. Jenna Stroud, Nebraska, 51.88^

 

Bonus Finals

18. Lynn Siemert, Nebraska, 52.45*

23. Michelle Criss, Nebraska, 52.79

 

200-yard Breaststroke

(1-8 Finalists, 9-16 Consolation Finalists, 17-24 Bonus Finalists)

8. Kaitlin Arntz, Nebraska, 2:18.87*

 

Bonus Finals

17. Hailey Dean, Nebraska, 2:24.33

18. Adrienne Goodman, Nebraska, 2:24.65

21. Colleen Criss, Nebraska, 2:25.46*

 

200-yard Butterfly

Finals

6. Mariah Hutchinson, Nebraska, 2:03.13*

8. Bailey Ingles, Nebraska, 2:05.35*

 

Consolation Finals

12. Christina Yemm, Nebraska, 2:07.11^

 

* Career Best