Runge topples another record in Texas

Friday, December 2

Austin, TX

10 AM / 6 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

Texas Invitational

Runge topples another record in Texas

December 02, 2016 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Results

Olympian leads charge on fast day for Badgers in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas -- After setting her first Wisconsin record in the 200-yard freestyle just weeks ago at the USA College Challenge, Cierra Runge reset her own mark en route to a win Friday at the Texas Invitational.

The sophomore broke her school record twice during the third day of competition, first notching a time of 1 minute, 45.17 seconds in the preliminaries, slightly edging her previous record of 1:45.67, before blasting out an automatic NCAA qualifying time of 1:43.18 in the evening finals session.

The showing marked Runge's third record-breaking performance of the invitational, first helping the 800 freestyle relay team to the Wisconsin record in 7:05.42 on day one of and then notching the 500 free record in 4:35.55 during the second day of meet action.

Abby Jagdfeld and Jess Unicomb also showcased strong swims for the Badgers in the event, with both swimmers notching NCAA "B" cuts of 1:46.40 and 1:47.93 to take 10th and 14th, respectively.

The men also produced impressive finishes in the 200 free with Brett Pinfold taking fourth with a provisional cut of 1:34.41 and Matt Hutchins also earning a "B" cut in 1:36.46 to take 11th.

The Badgers produced several other individual top-10 finishes on the day, with Danielle Valley posting a swift time of 4:13.39 in the 400 individual medley to finish fifth and pick up a provisional cut.

Freshman Cooper Hodge unleashed a blistering "B" cut time of 3:53.22 to take seventh in the men's 400 IM race.

Maria Carlson led UW in the 100 breaststroke, placing ninth with a provisional cut 1:01.24. Marissa Berg was right behind her also garnering a "B" cut time in 1:01.98 to take 13th.

Rounding out the top-10 finishers for the team included Cannon Clifton, who took ninth in the 100 butterfly, touching the wall in 46.83 to take ninth and garner a "B" cut, and Dana Grindall, who claimed a 10th-place finish in the women's 100 fly race in a "B" cut time of 53.20.

Beata Nelson and Jess Unicomb also produced strong swims for the Badgers in the 100 backstroke, with both picking up provisional cuts to place 11th (53.39) and 12th (53.53), respectively.

Wisconsin ended the day strong with the women's 200 medley relay team of Unicomb, Berg, Nelson and Chase Kinney earning a runner-up finish in 1:38.44.

Pinfold, Griffin Back, Harrison Tran and Clifton all combined their efforts to help the men's 200 medley relay team take seventh overall in 1:28.37.

The Badgers will finish out competition at the Texas Invitational on Saturday, with the 200 backstroke trials beginning at 9 a.m. (CT) and finals scheduled to start at 4 p.m.