Completed Event: Swimming and Diving versus Big 12 Duals on January 16, 2026 , , 5th, 781 points
Final
Swimming and Diving
Big 12 Duals
5th, 781 points
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Iowa State University Athletics
Paulson Breaks Iowa State Record at Big 12 Championships
02.23.2012 | Swimming and Diving
RESULTS | VIDEO: PAULSON 50 FREE SCHOOL RECORD
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Amanda Paulson wrote her name into the Iowa State history books Thursday at the Mizzou Aquatics Center. The freshman took seventh in the 50 free and in the process recorded the two fastest 50 free times in school history. Iowa State sits in fifth place with 121 points, only seven behind fourth-place Kansas. Texas A&M leads the team race with 342 points.
“We started a little better than we did yesterday, and as the day went on we got better and better,” Iowa State head coach Duane Sorenson said.
Paulson took care of business regarding the 50 free school record right away in the preliminary session. Swimming in the final heat of prelims, Paulson was third to the wall in her heat in 22.78. The swim broke the old school record set by Sam Dyshaw at the 2004 Big 12 Championships (22.98). In the finals, Paulson came home in seventh in 22.89. The final was a fast heat with the top-eight only separated by four-tenths of a second. The freshman's times were both under the NCAA 'B' cut.
“She has done a wonderful job swimming in this championship meet,” Sorenson noted. “It is an accomplishment to go that fast with so much turbulence and waves around her. We are very proud of what she accomplished."
Britta Sortland also got onto the board in the 50 free for the Cyclones. Another freshman, Sortland got into the finals in the 16th and final scoring position after posting a 23.66. In spite of going a slower 23.69 in the finals, Sortland did improve her place by taking seventh in the heat, good for 15th overall.
“We are in quite a team battle with Kansas, only seven points back,” Sorenson said. “She ended up getting 15th and had a KU girl 16th. That is a two-point swing and a handful of those will make a difference in the meet.”
The evening session kicked off with the 200 free relay team of Paulson, Sortland, Katie Vollhaber and Sarah Deis took fifth place with a 1:33.66, ranking the team seventh-fastest in school history. Paulson led off the heat in 23.17, marking her 11th sub-24 second 50 free swim of the season.
“Our 200 free relay posted one of the top-10 times in school history," Sorenson said. "I was really pleased with how they swam that race.”
Kristy Kunkel contributed a point to the Iowa State cause with her 16th place finish in the 500 free. The freshman made the consolation final with a prelims time of 5:04.69 before swimming the finals in 5:08.31.
Iowa State brought in a 22-point haul in the diving well Thursday afternoon during the 1-meter competition.
“We are excited that everyone who competed for points scored today,” diving coach Jeff Warrick said. “It was disappointing not getting someone in the finals, but they have two days still to get that done.”
Iowa State got career-best top-10 performances out of Sarah Nelson, who took ninth with a score of 243.50 and Jenn Botsch in 10th at 241.95. Warrick was particularly impressed by Botsch's performance and hopes she can carry it throughout the week.
“It was an outstanding performance from Jenn,” Warrick stated. “It was not quite her personal best, but compared to past Big 12 scores it was her best by far. She was consistent the whole way through.”
Iowa State also earned points from Jessica Henderson in 14th (212.30), Megan Cohea in 15th (205.75) and Marley Dobyns in 16th (196.35). It was the first time in Cohea and Dobyns' careers that they contributed team points at the Big 12 Championships.
“When you are scoring points for the team, you are doing your job,” Warrick said. “Tomorrow is going to be different as they are not scoring on 3-meter, but they will on platform. We hope that they continue to improve on their best.”
Day three action begins Friday at 10 a.m. CST with prelims for the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 3-meter diving. The diving finals are slated to start at 5 p.m. with the swimming finals kicking off at 6 p.m. with the 400 medley relay. The prelims session will be streamed live on big12sports.com.
Team Standings (thru seven events)
1. Texas A&M - 342 points
2. Texas - 296 points
3. Missouri - 225 points
4. Kansas - 128 points
5. Iowa State – 121 points
Individual Results (Iowa State point scorers listed)
200 Free Relay
1. Missouri – 1:28.43
5. Iowa State (Paulson, Sortland, Vollhaber, Deis) – 1:33.66
1-Meter Diving
1. Janie Potvin (Texas A&M) – 303.50
9. Sarah Nelson - 243.50
10. Jenn Botsch – 241.95
14. Jessica Henderson – 212.30
15. Megan Cohea – 205.75
16. Marley Dobyns – 196.35
500 Freestyle
1. Maureen McLaine (Texas A&M) – 4:41.19
16. Kristy Kunkel – 5:04.69
200 IM
1. Karlee Bispo (Texas) – 1:56.05
50 Freestyle
1. Ellen Lobb (Texas) – 22.56
7. Amanda Paulson – 22.78 (NCAA 'B' Cut, School Record)
15. Britta Sortland – 23.66t
Players Mentioned
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