Jayhawks in fourth at Big 12 Championships after Day Two

Feb. 23, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas swimming and diving team is in fourth place after two days of competition at the Big 12 Championships in Columbia, Mo. The Jayhawks recorded 131 points and trail Texas (345.5), Texas A&M (261), and Missouri (134). The Jayhawks lead Iowa State (116) and Nebraska (111.5).

Senior co-captain Gina Gnatzig highlighted the day for the Jayhawks with her second place finish in the 500 free. The Whitewater, Wis., native set a new KU record with her time of 4:48.77. The time was also a NCAA “B” standard time. Gnatzig would go on to finish fifth in the finals with a time of 4:49.28. Sophomore Terri Schramka finished 15th (4:55.69), junior Lia Pogioli finished 16th (4:56.96) and freshman Molly Brammer finished 17th (4:58.01).

“Gina swam both 500 free races great,” head coach Clark Campbell. “This is the first time in her career that she swam the 500 under 4:50 and she set a school record in the prelims. In the final, she was almost as fast and in a tough conference like this we are very happy with her performance.”

In the 200 IM, freshmen Danielle Herrmann lead the team with her 11th place time of 2:04.34. Senior co-captain Emily Rusch and junior Bri Brotherson finished 12th and 13th, respectively. Freshman Shanna Bradbury also finished 16th.

Senior Lindsey Urbatchka took 14th place in the 50 free with a time of 24.08. Freshman Ashley Leidigh finished 15th with a time of 24.19 and junior Jenny Short took 16th with a time of 24.22.

The Kansas 400 medley relay team of junior Jenny Short, Herrmann, Leidigh, and Gnatzig finished third with a time of 3:45.99.

“We had a good first full day of competition,” Campbell said. “Of the three days this is the most challenging for us and everyone stepped up. Each day we will be able to step up and tomorrow we expect to swim strong. We are happy to be able to perform at such a high level.”

The `Hawks will be back in action Feb. 24 with prelims starting at 10 a.m. and finals beginning at 6 p.m. For complete results go to www.kuathletics.com.