Big 12 Championships, Day 4 Prelims: Joleigh Crye Leads Women’s 100 Breast Battle
Through three days of the Big 12 Championships in Greensboro, the team title seems settled thanks to Arizona State, with Arizona in solid silver position in both the men’s and women’s standings.
But there is individual intrigue to be had, and no event might offer that quite like the women’s 100 breaststroke Friday night.
Seven swimmers hit A cuts in the morning session, albeit only one of them new. That’s way on the high side for this meet, and three swimmers under a minute portend an entertaining final. Joleigh Crye of Cincinnati led the way, but the path to victory is somewhat open.
All the prelims action from Friday. The night session will include men’s platform diving and the 200 freestyle relays.
Big 12 Championships Team Scores
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 23 1. Arizona State University 960.5 2. University of Arizona 690.5 3. University of Houston 568.5 4. University of Utah 463 4. University of Cincinnati 463 6. University of Kansas 421.5 7. Texas Christian University 415 8. Brigham Young University 310 9. Iowa State University 300 10. West Virginia University 222
Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 24 1. Arizona State University 1032.5 2. University of Arizona 868.5 3. University of Utah 838 4. Texas Christian University 474 5. Brigham Young University 447 6. University of Cincinnati 361 7. West Virginia University 351
Women’s 200 butterfly
Deniz Ertan of Arizona State is looking to build on her 500 free title, leading the way in prelims at 1:57.46. That’s a best time this season by nearly 1.5 seconds, the senior leaping from the fifth seed to lead the way in prelims. Teammate Julia Ullmann, the 100 fly winner, was third in 1:58.54. between them was Sydney Nethercutt of Houston in 1:58.25.
Five swimmers broke two minutes, including Emma Kinsey of Arizona and Noor El Gendy of Houston.
Event 25 Women 200 Yard Butterfly
==================================================================
NCAA D1: ! 1:49.16 2/23/2024 Alex Walsh
American: $ 1:49.37 10/20/2023Regan Smith
US Open: & 1:48.33 10/20/2023Reagan Smith
Big 12: * 1:49.95 3/18/2023 Emma Sticklen, Texas
Meet: # 1:51.66 3/1/2024 Kelly Pash, Texas
NCAA Qualify: A 1:57.11
NCCA Invit25: 1:55.82
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Ertan, Deniz SR ASU 1:58.81 1:57.46
r:+0.70 26.20 56.10 (29.90)
1:26.47 (30.37) 1:57.46 (30.99)
2 Nethercutt, Sydney JR UH 1:57.02 1:58.25
r:+0.80 26.72 56.55 (29.83)
1:26.70 (30.15) 1:58.25 (31.55)
3 Ullmann, Julia SO ASU 1:55.80 1:58.54
r:+0.65 26.49 56.85 (30.36)
1:27.55 (30.70) 1:58.54 (30.99)
4 Kinsey, Emma JR ARIZ 2:01.22 1:59.37
r:+0.71 26.64 56.93 (30.29)
1:28.67 (31.74) 1:59.37 (30.70)
5 El Gendy, Noor SR UH 1:57.78 1:59.81
r:+0.73 26.71 57.12 (30.41)
1:28.11 (30.99) 1:59.81 (31.70)
6 Mallers, Kendall FR ISU 2:03.62 2:00.11
r:+0.70 27.28 58.11 (30.83)
1:29.03 (30.92) 2:00.11 (31.08)
7 Beltran, Ariel SO ASU 1:59.35 2:00.82
r:+0.71 26.64 56.79 (30.15)
1:27.78 (30.99) 2:00.82 (33.04)
8 Neilson, MJ SO ARIZ 2:00.32 2:00.88
r:+0.61 26.72 57.48 (30.76)
1:28.81 (31.33) 2:00.88 (32.07)
Men’s 200 butterfly
It’s Ilya Kharun and everyone else in this event. Kharun is seeking his third win, and he went a comfortable 140.37 in prelims to take the top seed by exactly 2.5 seconds. It was still nearly three seconds off his seed time.
Joel Nace was closest, the Arizona sophomore leading teammate Haakon Naughton to the wall in 1:42.87. Utah’s Evan VanBrocklin was second in 1:44.81, .02 up on Filip Senc-Samardzic of ASU.
Event 26 Men 200 Yard Butterfly
==================================================================
NCAA D1: ! 1:37.17 1/25/2025 Luca Urlando
American: $ 1:36.41 11/21/2025Luca Urlando
US Open: & 1:36.41 11/21/2025Luca Urlando
Big 12: * 1:37.35 3/25/2017 Jack Conger, Texas
Meet: # 1:39.17 2/25/2017 Jack Conger, Texas
NCAA Qualify: A 1:43.79
NCCA Invit25: 1:41.45
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Kharun, Ilya JR ASU 1:37.56 1:40.37A
r:+0.70 22.64 48.81 (26.17)
1:15.11 (26.30) 1:40.37 (25.26)
2 Nace, Joel SO ARIZ 1:42.41 1:42.87A
r:+0.64 22.80 48.72 (25.92)
1:15.29 (26.57) 1:42.87 (27.58)
3 Naughton, Haakon SR ARIZ 1:40.77 1:43.29A
r:+0.65 22.38 48.00 (25.62)
1:14.98 (26.98) 1:43.29 (28.31)
4 VanBrocklin, Evan SR UTAH 1:43.60 1:44.81
r:+0.64 23.27 49.67 (26.40)
1:17.11 (27.44) 1:44.81 (27.70)
5 Senc-Samardzic, Filip JR ASU 1:41.75 1:44.83
r:+0.67 23.29 50.32 (27.03)
1:17.20 (26.88) 1:44.83 (27.63)
6 Walter, Jakub JR UTAH 1:43.96 1:45.16
r:+0.73 23.30 49.96 (26.66)
1:17.30 (27.34) 1:45.16 (27.86)
7 Hristov, Viktor SO TCU 1:47.05 1:45.20
r:+0.69 22.65 49.14 (26.49)
1:16.51 (27.37) 1:45.20 (28.69)
8 Ballard, Jacob SR BYU 1:45.44 1:45.21
r:+0.65 23.74 50.61 (26.87)
1:18.03 (27.42) 1:45.21 (27.18)
Women’s 100 breaststroke
The 200 fly produced no A cuts in the morning. The 100 breast had seven. It’s going to be a quick one, with the battle to get on the podium pitched.
At the top, it’s Joleigh Crye of Cincinnati, who entered as the top seed. In a field where no one else has been 58, she has a 57.99 to her name and backed it with a 58.62 in prelims. Teammate Lindi Worrell was third in 59.61. In between is Arizona’s Eleni Gewalt in 59.13.
Arizona State has two in the A final, with Ginger McMahon fourth and Lucie Vasquez eighth. Just two tenths separated places four through seven.
Event 27 Women 100 Yard Breaststroke
==================================================================
NCAA D1: ! 55.73 3/22/2019 Lilly King
American: $ 55.73 3/22/2019 Lilly King
US Open: & 55.73 3/22/2019 Lilly King
Big 12: * 56.88 3/18/2022 Anna Elendt, Texas
Meet: # 57.27 3/1/2024 Lydia Jacoby, Texas
NCAA Qualify: A 1:00.30
NCCA Invit25: 59.57
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Crye, Joleigh SR CINC 57.99 58.62A
r:+0.75 12.55 27.16 (14.61)
42.61 (15.45) 58.62 (16.01)
2 Gewalt, Eleni SR ARIZ 59.13 59.13A
r:+0.64 12.90 27.87 (14.97)
43.39 (15.52) 59.13 (15.74)
3 Worrell, Lindi JR CINC 59.96 59.61A
r:+0.71 12.61 27.46 (14.85)
43.29 (15.83) 59.61 (16.32)
4 McMahon, Ginger SR ASU 1:00.07 1:00.05A
r:+0.68 13.24 28.62 (15.38)
44.27 (15.65) 1:00.05 (15.78)
5 Entrekin, Evelyn JR UH 59.75 1:00.11A
r:+0.71 13.37 28.50 (15.13)
44.50 (16.00) 1:00.11 (15.61)
6 Vadovicova, Nina JR TCU 1:00.22 1:00.15A
r:+0.73 13.14 28.41 (15.27)
45.46 (17.05) 1:00.15 (14.69)
7 Swoboda, Grace SO ISU 1:00.45 1:00.24A
r:+0.74 12.96 28.24 (15.28)
44.12 (15.88) 1:00.24 (16.12)
8 Vasquez, Lucie SO ASU 1:00.24 1:00.48
r:+0.70 13.15 28.13 (14.98)
44.05 (15.92) 1:00.48 (16.43)
Men’s 100 breaststroke
Cue the ASU fight song after finishing 1-2-4-6-8 in the 100 breast.
Lucien Vergnes led the way in 51.90, a season-best. The top seed entering the met, Andy Dobrzanski, was second in 52.02. He remains the favorite with a 51.00 to his name this year; Caspar Corbeau’s meet record of 50.96 from 2022 will surely be in his sights, if not the conference mark of 50.49 that Corbeau owns.
Brayden Taivassalo was fourth for ASU in a fresh A cut of 52.47, followed by Jonthan Itzhaki in sixth and Jon Reiter in eighth.
Among the non-Sun Devils, Tavner Wisdom of Arizona finished third in 52.17, a new A cut. BYU rounded out the A final with Peter Etzold fifth and Will Bonnett seventh.
Event 28 Men 100 Yard Breaststroke
==================================================================
NCAA D1: ! 49.51 2/21/2025 Julian Smith
American: $ 49.51 2/21/2025 Julian Smith
US Open: & 49.51 2/21/2025 Julian Smith
Big 12: * 50.49 3/25/2022 Caspar Corbeau, Texas
Meet: # 50.96 2/25/2022 Caspar Corbeau, Texas
NCAA Qualify: A 52.58
NCCA Invit25: 51.58
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Vergnes, Lucien SO ASU 51.99 51.90A
r:+0.64 10.89 23.95 (13.06)
37.77 (13.82) 51.90 (14.13)
2 Dobrzanski, Andy SR ASU 51.00 52.02A
r:+0.66 11.02 24.21 (13.19)
37.89 (13.68) 52.02 (14.13)
3 Wisdom, Tavner JR ARIZ 52.91 52.17A
r:+0.68 11.36 24.45 (13.09)
38.16 (13.71) 52.17 (14.01)
4 Taivassalo, Brayden JR ASU 52.83 52.47A
r:+0.69 11.32 24.38 (13.06)
38.41 (14.03) 52.47 (14.06)
5 Etzold, Peter SO BYU 52.37 52.49A
r:+0.65 11.06 24.41 (13.35)
38.32 (13.91) 52.49 (14.17)
6 Itzhaki, Jonathan FR ASU 52.83 52.87
r:+0.64 11.13 24.62 (13.49)
38.82 (14.20) 52.87 (14.05)
7 Bonnett, Will SO BYU 53.09 52.88
r:+0.63 11.09 24.29 (13.20)
38.55 (14.26) 52.88 (14.33)
8 Reiter, Jon GS ASU 52.80 53.10
r:+0.68 11.23 24.66 (13.43)
38.74 (14.08) 53.10 (14.36)
Women’s 100 backstroke
Houston’s Alexia Duncan backed her top seed entering the meet by going 52.41, a best time this season to grab the top seed. Arizona follows with Lila Lillie second in 53.12 and teammate Julia Smuryznska a hundredth back.
Gerda Szilyagi is the only ASU rep in the A final in fourth in at 53.37, and the Wildcats’ Kayman Neal is .01 back of her. One surprise is Lydia Lafferty of Kansas, the fourth seed, finishing just ninth in 53.09, .02 out of the A final.
Event 29 Women 100 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
NCAA D1: ! 48.10 2/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh
American: $ 48.10 2/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh
US Open: & 48.10 2/23/2024 Gretchen Walsh
Big 12: * 50.51 2/27/2020 Claire Adams, Texas
Meet: # 50.51 2/27/2020 Claire Adams, Texas
NCAA Qualify: A 52.65
NCCA Invit25: 51.73
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Duncan, Alexia SO UH 52.62 52.41A
r:+0.75 12.62 25.62 (13.00)
39.29 (13.67) 52.41 (13.12)
2 Lillie, Lila SO ARIZ 52.91 53.12
12.53 25.49 (12.96)
39.40 (13.91) 53.12 (13.72)
3 *Smurzynska, Julia FR ARIZ 53.15 53.13
r:+0.57 12.66 25.87 (13.21)
39.69 (13.82) 53.13 (13.44)
4 Szilagyi, Gerda SR ASU 53.07 53.37
r:+0.72 12.55 25.74 (13.19)
39.56 (13.82) 53.37 (13.81)
5 Neal, Kayman SO ARIZ 52.82 53.38
r:+0.57 13.02 26.29 (13.27)
40.00 (13.71) 53.38 (13.38)
6 Jimenez, Elizabeth JR UH 53.68 53.49
r:+0.69 12.71 25.99 (13.28)
39.68 (13.69) 53.49 (13.81)
7 Whittall, Natasha SR WVU 54.14 54.04
r:+0.60 12.77 26.45 (13.68)
40.25 (13.80) 54.04 (13.79)
8 *Hagsten Skarda, Magd JR ARIZ 54.69 54.07
r:+0.94 12.86 26.61 (13.75)
40.23 (13.62) 54.07 (13.84)
Men’s 100 backstroke
Arizona freshman Duncan Henderson edged Arizona State elder statesman Adam Chaney to the middle lane in the 100 back, Henderson going 44.79. Chaney, the top seed entering the meet at 44.13 and the conference record-holder at 43.93, was second in 45.69. Expected him to have plenty left in the tank for finals.
Chaney is the only Sun Devil in the A final. Nolan Dunkel of Utah grabbed the third seed in a new A cut of 46.13. TCU pushed Filip Suchanski into fourth and Edgar Cicanci into fifth. Arizona has three in the A final.
Event 30 Men 100 Yard Backstroke
==================================================================
NCAA D1: ! 43.20 3/25/2025 Hubi Kos
American: $ 43.26 11/20/2025Will Modglin
US Open: & 43.20 3/28/2025 Hubi Kos
Big 12: * 43.93 2/26/2026 Adam Chaney, Arizona State
Meet: # 43.93 2/26/2026 Adam Chaney, Arizona State
NCAA Qualify: A 46.29
NCCA Invit25: 45.26
Name Year School Seed Prelims
==================================================================
=== Preliminaries ===
1 Henderson, Duncan FR ARIZ 45.08 44.79A
r:+0.69 10.36 21.45 (11.09)
33.24 (11.79) 44.79 (11.55)
2 Chaney, Adam GS ASU 44.13 45.69A
r:+0.76 10.60 21.86 (11.26)
33.82 (11.96) 45.69 (11.87)
3 Dunkel, Nolan SO UTAH 46.45 46.13A
r:+0.59 10.87 22.22 (11.35)
34.30 (12.08) 46.13 (11.83)
4 Suchanski, Filip SO TCU 47.01 46.58
r:+0.66 10.97 22.52 (11.55)
34.47 (11.95) 46.58 (12.11)
5 Cicanci, Edgar SR TCU 46.54 46.59
r:+0.64 11.02 22.33 (11.31)
34.65 (12.32) 46.59 (11.94)
6 Hardy, Ryan SR ARIZ 47.11 46.63
r:+0.53 10.66 22.40 (11.74)
34.42 (12.02) 46.63 (12.21)
7 Chiles, Owen SO CINC 47.38 46.67
r:+0.68 11.15 22.46 (11.31)
34.46 (12.00) 46.67 (12.21)
8 *Desangles, Alex FR ARIZ 45.89 46.69
r:+0.70 11.02 22.57 (11.55)
34.76 (12.19) 46.69 (11.93)
