Iowa State Clinches 2nd-Place Finish at Big 12s

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Big 12 Men's and Women's Championship

Iowa State Clinches 2nd-Place Finish at Big 12s

02.28.2015 | Swimming and Diving

RESULTS 1-Meter Diving RESULTS 3-Meter Diving RESULTS Platform Diving RESULTS

By: cyclones.com

AUSTIN, Texas – The Iowa State swimming and diving team clinched the program's best finish at a conference meet in the Big 12 era with a second-place team finish on Saturday.

This year's Big 12 Championship performance marked the first time the Cyclones have been ranked in the top-two of their conference since the 1979-80 season, when the Cyclones finished second at the Big Eight Championships under head coach Ramsey Van Horn.

Iowa State sealed its second-place finish in the final event of the evening, racing to a third-place finish in the 400 free relay in a time of 3:23.96. The relay team of Amanda Paulson, Savanna Townsend, Alex Flatness and Sarah Dies now sits fourth in Iowa State history in the event.

Freshman Kasey Roberts was back in the spotlight for Iowa State, breaking the school record in the 200 breaststroke twice on the day. During her prelim swim, Roberts reached the wall in a time of 2:13.07, knocking off the record set by Imelda Wistey last year. The Cyclone newcomer dropped over a second off her prelim time, finishing third in a time of 2:11.82.

Mary Kate Luddy improved on her prelim time of 2:02.02 by over 1.50-seconds, racing to a school record performance of her own in the 200 fly. The Iowa State freshman finished fourth in a time of 2:00.43, breaking the previous record of 2:00.95 held by Amber McDowell for over 10 years.

Iowa State's Elyse Brouillette tallied a first-team All-Big 12 performance in the platform event, finishing third with a score of 242.85. Brouillette has now medaled in six consecutive events at the Big 12 Championship dating back to last year. Sophomore Julie Dickinson took home fifth, posting a personal record score of 203.25 and climbing to 10^th on ISU's all-time top-performers chart.

The backstroke duo of Marissa Engel and Bre Loeschke touched third and fourth in the 200 back, clocking time of 1:58.00 and 1:58.87, respectively. Kaylee Kucera also scored for the Cyclones in the B-final heat, while freshman Harper Emswiler cracked Iowa State's all-time top-20 performers list in the event with a time of 2:04.29, ranking her 16^th in school history.

In the 100 free, senior Sarah Deis posted a time of 51.41, finishing eighth in the A-final heat. Alex Flatness (51.11), Savanna Townsend (51.54) and Brooke Evensen (51.58) also scored for the Cyclones in the B-final heat. Flatness' time currently ranks her 11^th on Iowa State's all-time top-performers list.

Final Team Standings:
1. Texas, 1082.5
2. Iowa State, 618.5
3. Kansas, 589
4. West Virginia, 481
5. TCU, 458

Iowa State Personal Records:
*Alex Flatness (100 Free): 51.11
*Sarah Deis (100 Free): 51.23
*Savanna Townsend (100 Free): 51.54
*Carissa Poeschel (100 Free): 51.76
*Maddie Rastall (100 Free): 52.12
*Silqi Luo (100 Free): 52.43
*Mary Kate Luddy (200 Fly): 2:00.43
*Harper Emswiler (200 Back): 2:04.29
*Kasey Roberts (200 Breast): 2:11.82B
*Danica Delaquis (200 Breast): 2:16.64
*April Long (200 Breast): 2:21.14
*Julie Dickinson (Platform): 203.25
*Becky Stochl (Platform): 191.55
*Sydney Ronald (Platform): 173.10

Iowa State A-Final Heat Results:
200 Back: 1) Tasija Karosas, Texas, 1:52.74; 3) Marissa Engel, Iowa State, 1:58.00; 4) Bre Loeschke, Iowa State, 1:58.87
100 Free: 1) Rebecca Millard, Texas, 48.84 7) Sarah Deis, Iowa State, 51.41
1650 Free: 1) Kaitlin Pawlowi, Texas, 16:01.92; 9) Karyl Clarete, Iowa State, 17:13.46; 10) Elizabeth Kleiner, Iowa State, 17:16.50
200 Breast: 1) Gretchen Jaques, Texas, 2:08.94; 3) Kasey Roberts, Iowa State, 2:11.82
200 Fly: 1) Kelsey Leneave, Texas, 1:56.21; 4) Mary Kate Luddy, Iowa State, 2:00.43
Platform: 1) Samantha Bromberg, Texas, 411.30; 3) Elyse Brouillette, Iowa State, 242.85; 5) Julie Dickinson, Iowa State, 203.25
400 FR: 1) Texas, 3:17.00; 3) Iowa State, 3:23.96

On Deck
The Cyclones will be back at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center tomorrow for the Last Chance Meet. For live coverage and updates, follow @CycloneSD on Twitter.