2018 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championship

Which Records Are In Danger At The Big 12 Championships?

With a pool full of speed, here's a look at some of the marks that swimmers will be aiming to surpass at the Big 12 Championships.

Feb 21, 2018 by Kolby Paxton

Which Records Are In Danger At The Big 12 Championships?

By Ben Colin

In recent years, it's become a rarity in the Big 12 for record-breaking performances to stay atop the conference's history books for long.

In fact, every individual men's swimming record was set within the last three years. For the women, nine total championship records were set in 2017 alone.

Here is a list of six championship records that are in danger of changing hands at the 2018 Big 12 Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, which take place Wednesday through Saturday in Austin, Texas.

Since many records were set by swimmers who are competing again this year, these are all records that could be taken down by someone new.

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1. Men’s 200-Yard Backstroke — Current Record: Jack Conger (UT) - 1:39.70

Texas freshman Austin Katz has already been under the NCAA "A" standard and the record with a 1:38.49 at the Texas Invitational. Now all he has to do is drop that time again in the conference meet. Even though the Longhorns might not be completely rested, they always seem to swim fast times if they need to at Big 12s. This is the most likely record to change hands.

2. Men’s 100 Backstroke — Current Record: Andrew Marsh (WVU) - 45.41

Katz, a Florida native, has a shot at taking two conference championship records. The 100 backstroke is slightly more tricky for Katz; he has only been under the championship record by 0.07 this season. There is still a good chance it will be broken if Katz is able to swim like he did in December.

3. Women’s 1-Meter Diving — Current Record: Maren Taylor (UT) - 346.35

Texas' Alison Gibson won the national championship last year and has scored a 335.40 earlier this season. Gibson can light it up on the boards in her home pool and raise the record.

4. Men’s 200 Butterfly — Current Record: Jack Conger (UT) 1:40.57

Joseph Schooling and Jack Conger headed a dominate fly group at Texas over the last few years. Conger won the event at the NCAA championships last year, but now Schooling is in the driver's seat. He’s notched a time of 1:40.72 this year, just off the record. Freshman teammate Sam Pomajevich is also within striking distance.

5. Women’s 100 Backstroke — Current Record: Tasija Karosas (UT) - 50.83

Texas’ Claire Adams owns a season-best time of 51.42 . Even though she is 0.6 off the record, she will have a chance this week at the record. It will take a lifetime best though. Her best time is 50.95 from NCAAs last year.

6. Men’s 500 Freestyle — Current Record: Clark Smith (UT) - 4:11.11

Townley Haas finished second to Smith’s record swim last year with a time just over a second slower. He holds the 200 freestyle championship record and with record-breaking experience has a chance to swim under the record here. His best time is three seconds under the record.