Feb. 23, 2006

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Texas men jumped from third to first place on day two of the 2006 Big 12 Swimming & Diving Championships, while the UT women took sole possession of the lead after sharing the top spot with Texas A&M on day one.

Nine-time conference men's champion UT swept the swimming events on Thursday. In the first race of the night, freshman Michael Klueh broke the Big 12 meet and conference record in the 500-yard freestyle (4:15.28) to start the Longhorn rally. Klueh's debut performance at the league championships also automatically qualified him for the NCAA Championships scheduled for March 23-25 at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center. It marks the second straight day for Klueh to shatter a meet record. Klueh surpassed the 200 free time previously held by Anthony Rogis (Nebraska) after swimming 1:34.67 on the opening leg of the 800 free relay.

Klueh's teammate Garrett Weber-Gale added two more conference victories to his career accolades with a win in the 50 free and as the anchor leg of the 400 medley relay. Weber-Gale has won eight league titles -- two individual crowns and six as a relay team member.

Caleb McDermott claimed the 200 individual medley to earn his first conference championship. The Canyon Lake, Texas native posted a national consideration time of 1:47.62.

In diving action, 2005 Big 12 Championships Diver of the Meet Eric Sehn (Texas A&M) defended his three-meter diving title. He compiled a 397.25 score. Sehn, a sophomore, is undefeated at the league meet, after capturing all three diving competitions last year and tonight's victory.

Underclassmen dominated the women's field on day two. Freshmen won three of the four individual events contested on day two. Texas A&M Codie Hansen recorded her second victory in as many days, by winning the gold in the 500 freestyle. On Wednesday she swam the opening leg of the 800 free relay, which set a meet and conference record and automatically qualified the squad for nationals. Fellow Aggie Triin Aljand also collected her first career win in the 50 free.

Kathryn Kelly (Texas) claimed the one-meter diving competition with a score of 276.10 at her first league meet. While Longhorn junior Elaine Ferritto posted an NCAA automatic time of 1:59.61 in the 200 IM.

Connie Brown, Elizabeth Tinnon, Katie Robinson and Jaclyn Faulkner extended the Texas win streak to eight when the team won the 400 medley relay. Tinnon earned the 10th Big 12 crown of her career, and it was Brown's eighth victory.

The championships resume Friday at 10 a.m. with preliminary action, while the finals are slated for 6 p.m.

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

TEAM STANDINGS

Men

1. Texas: 344.50
2. Texas A&M: 290.50
3. Missouri: 219.00

Women

1. Texas: 345.50
1. Texas A&M: 261.00
3. Missouri: 134.00
4. Kansas: 131.00
5. Iowa State: 116.00
6. Nebraska: 111.50

DAY TWO CHAMPIONS

* - Big 12 Championships Meet Record; $ - NCAA Championships Automatic-Qualifying Time; # - NCAA Championships Consideration Time

Men
500-Yard Freestyle: Michael Klueh, Fr., Texas - 4:15.28*$
200-Yard IM: Caleb McDermott, So, Texas - 1:47.62#
50-Yard Freestyle: Garrett Weber-Gale, Jr., Texas - 19.78#
Three-meter Diving: Eric Sehn, So., Texas A&M - 397.25$
400-Yard Medley Relay: Texas - 3:12.63#

(Thomas Sacco, Christian Schurr, Dan Rohleder, Garrett Weber-Gale)

Women

One-meter Diving: Kathryn Kelly, Fr., Texas - 276.10
500-Yard Freestyle: Codie Hansen, Fr., Texas A&M - 4:46.01
200-Yard IM: Elaine Ferritto, Jr., Texas - 1:59.61$
50-Yard Freestyle: Triin Aljand, Fr., Texas A&M - 22.46$
400-Yard Medley Relay: Texas - 3:37.53$(Connie Brown, Elizabeth Tinnon, Katie Robinson, Jaclyn Faulkner)

Codie Hansen (Texas A&M), 800 Freestyle Relay

"It was an incredible experience. We were trying to make history for our school, and we did, so it was really awesome."

Matt Neal (Texas A&M), 800 Freestyle Relay

"Well, I am a senior and I have dreamed about this for four years and it finally happened. It makes all that hard work we put in early in the season worth it. It finally paid off."

Kathryn Kelly (Texas), Women's 1-Meter Diving

"It is just really exciting since it is my freshman year. I was just really happy, I was just hoping to do my best and hoping that all the divers did the best we could as a team, and we did."

Codie Hansen (Texas A&M), 500 Freestyle

"I think that this really helped our teams. As far as momentum goes we think that we can really win this meet."

Michael Klueh (Texas), 500 Freestyle (New meet record)

"It was really exciting especially being a freshman. Coming in here, I did not expect to do this well. Being that much faster than my previous best is just great."

Elaine Ferritto (Texas), 200 Individual Medley

"I don't think it was really about winning it. We had four of our Texas girls in that heat. We were so excited to get out there and race and see what happened. To be at the top of the podium with three of my other teammates is just great. I am so pumped up."

Caleb McDermott (Texas), 200 Individual Medley

"It is a lot of fun; our whole team worked real hard to get here. It is overwhelming right now, but it is also a lot of fun."

Eric Sehn (Texas A&M), 3-Meter Diving

"I knew I had to have a solid dive. The competition was tough, I am kind of excited that I won; I was not really expecting it."

Evan Watters (Missouri), 3-Meter Diving runner-up

"It is really exciting when you have everybody cheering for you; we have not had a lot of home meets this year. It is really exciting to have everybody cheering for you. You get up there, and you know everybody is going to go crazy. It just got my heart racing; I may have gotten too hyped up on some of the dives. I love competing against UT and A&M it is really cool to have all these great divers."

Garrett Weber-Gale (Texas), 50 Freestyle

"It is a lot of fun for me; I try to get ready for the 100 by doing the 50. I just want to get my stroke ready. I just want to get the Texas group hyped up."

THURSDAY RACES

Codie Hansen (Texas A&M), 800 Freestyle Relay

"It was an incredible experience. We were trying to make history for our school, and we did, so it was really awesome."

Matt Neal (Texas A&M), 800 Freestyle Relay

"Well, I am a senior and I have dreamed about this for four years and it finally happened. It makes all that hard work we put in early in the season worth it. It finally paid off."

Kathryn Kelly (Texas), Women's 1-Meter Diving

"It is just really exciting since it is my freshman year. I was just really happy, I was just hoping to do my best and hoping that all the divers did the best we could as a team, and we did."

Codie Hansen (Texas A&M), 500 Freestyle

"I think that this really helped our teams. As far as momentum goes we think that we can really win this meet."

Michael Klueh (Texas), 500 Freestyle (New meet record)

"It was really exciting especially being a freshman. Coming in here, I did not expect to do this well. Being that much faster than my previous best is just great."

Elaine Ferritto (Texas), 200 Individual Medley

"I don't think it was really about winning it. We had four of our Texas girls in that heat. We were so excited to get out there and race and see what happened. To be at the top of the podium with three of my other teammates is just great. I am so pumped up."

Caleb McDermott (Texas), 200 Individual Medley

"It is a lot of fun; our whole team worked real hard to get here. It is overwhelming right now, but it is also a lot of fun."

Eric Sehn (Texas A&M), 3-Meter Diving

"I knew I had to have a solid dive. The competition was tough, I am kind of excited that I won; I was not really expecting it."

Evan Watters (Missouri), 3-Meter Diving runner-up

"It is really exciting when you have everybody cheering for you; we have not had a lot of home meets this year. It is really exciting to have everybody cheering for you. You get up there, and you know everybody is going to go crazy. It just got my heart racing; I may have gotten too hyped up on some of the dives. I love competing against UT and A&M it is really cool to have all these great divers."

Garrett Weber-Gale (Texas), 50 Freestyle

"It is a lot of fun for me; I try to get ready for the 100 by doing the 50. I just want to get my stroke ready. I just want to get the Texas group hyped up."