Thorson Takes Bronze in Day Three

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Iowa State (8-2, 2-1 Big 12) sits 1.5 points behind West Virginia with 317 points following day three. Seven Cyclones medaled, including Lehr Thorson's 100 breast third-place finish.

Thorson left her mark on the day as she took possession of her third career bronze medal. The senior posted 1:00.87 for her seventh 100 breast NCAA 'B' cut.

Martha Haas put her hand on the wall right after to also earn First-Team All-Big 12 distinction with 1:01.13. The time moves Haas up to No. 3 all-time in program history and is her second NCAA 'B' cut. Following the race, Thorson and Haas stood on the podium alongside each other for the sixth time of their careers.

Trinity Gilbert notched another All-Big 12 honor for a second-consecutive day, this time in the 100 fly. Gilbert broke her PR for the second time on the day with a time of 54.50 to place fifth. The junior carved a second off her PR throughout the day to become the sixth-best performer as she clocked in the 16^th-fastest time in program history.

Swimming in championship finals for the second time of the meet was Brinley Horras in the 200 free. The distance freestyler picked up her fourth-career All-Big 12 honor with a finish of 1:51.07.

Elizabeth Richardson (54.65, 5^th) and Emily Haan (54.98, 8^th) posted 25 team points as they swam together in 100 back 'A' finals. Richardson grabbed her third All-Big 12 honor and Haan her fourth.

Michelle Schlossmacher Smith dove to her second mark over 300 on the day as she earned her fourth-career All-Big 12 honor with 324.50 to place sixth in three-meter finals. The finish became the senior's highest-career finish at the Big 12 meet in the event.

Schlossmacher Smith punched her ticket to finals with 323.20, her 20^th Zone cut this season. The school record holder's six dive score tied the then-No. 9 highest in school history and ended as the seventh highest in prelims.

"I was really proud of how Michelle competed today," Diving Coach Jeff Warrick said. "Her score in prelims was the highest any Iowa State diver has scored at the Big 12 Championships. To come back at night and have another great repeat performance and slightly better was fantastic"

Paige Hanley (1:02.25) and Alaina Breitbach (1:02.36) entertained with a one-two finish in 100 breast 'B' finals. Touching just over a tenth of a second apart, the duo each moved up a spot on the all-time list. Hanley upgraded to the eighth-fastest performer and Breitbach to ninth-fastest.

Fallon DeWitt notably trimmed nearly nine seconds off her PR on the day as she made two swims in the 400 IM. The freshman began the day at No. 20 all-time and made the move up to No. 12 in prelims (4:25.32) and ended the day at No. 7 (4:21.86) with her 'C' finals swim. Her new PR ties the 18^th-fastest time in school history.

"Very happy with the way we swam this morning and evening," Head Coach Duane Sorenson said. "We were behind the eight ball in the first day and that is kind of our typical way of competing at this meet. We put on a really strong second day and this third day of individual races. Really proud of Martha and Lehr finishing out their career in the 100 breast and Brinley swam a gutsy race in the 200 free. Very proud of all our women tonight."

PRELIMS

A strong prelims session led to securing seven championship finals slots and eight in 'B' finals. Eight touched with PRs and swimmers and divers made a commanding 13 edits to the record books.

Breaststrokers Thorson (1:00.57, 3^rd) and Haas (1:01.47) each tallied a new PR and an NCAA 'B' cut in the 100 breast. Thorson's finish improved her standing at No. 2 on the Iowa State all-time list and separated her from the school record by .11 seconds. Haas moved up two spots to become the fourth-fastest performer in program history.

Also improving their spots at No. 2 in school history was Haan as she cleared her lifetime 100 back PR for the second-consecutive day. Haan's eighth-fastest time in Cyclone history of 54.43 took the fourth spot in 'A' finals. The time came within .58 seconds off the school record.

Elizabeth Richardson became the third-fastest performer in school history with her 100 back finish of 54.53 to qualify for championship finals. Richardson's eighth-place prelims finish was the 11^th-fastest time in program history.

The Championship concludes tomorrow with platform diving, the 200 back, 100 free, 1650 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and the 400 free relay. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. ET and finals at 6 p.m. Both prelims and finals will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

Players Mentioned

Alaina Breitbach

Fallon DeWitt

Emily Haan

Martha Haas

Paige Hanley

Brinley Horras

Trinity Kay

Elizabeth Richardson

Lehr Thorson

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