Heading into last week, Arizona Athletics was still seeking its first Big 12 titles of any sort.
The Wildcats swimming and diving and track and field programs changed that as several athletes finished in first place in their respective events at Big 12 conference championships.
The Arizona swimming and diving teams both finished runner-up in their first Big 12 Championships, which were held Feb. 25 – March 2 in Federal Way, Wash.
The Arizona men finished with 1,301 points, and the women earned 1,240. ASU swept the meet.
Several Wildcats earned podium finishes, led by first place showings by the women’s 200 free relay and the men’s 200 free relay. The gold medal swim by the women’s 200 free relay was the 11th-fastest time in the country this season (1:26.92) and qualified as an NCAA A cut.
The other NCAA A cut of the competition belonged to the Arizona men’s 400 medley relay, which finished runner-up with a time of 3:03.68.
Swimmers with NCAA A cut times automatically qualify for NCAA Championships later this month.
On the final day oof competition, Arizona got its first individual title as Julia Wozniak’s won the women’s 100 free. Arizona went 1-2 in the race, with Riley Bottom finishing just behind her teammate.
The Arizona women will compete in the NCAA Championships March 19-22, while the men will compete March 27-30. Both competitions will be held in Federal Way.
As swimming concluded, Arizona track and field competed at Big 12 Indoor Championships in Lubbock, Texas. Both the men’s and women’s teams took seventh place. The men earned 51.5 meets and the women scored 52.
There are 13 teams on the men’s side and 16 on the women’s. Texas Tech won both competitions.
The Arizona men saw two athletes earn first place: Zach Landa in the shot put and Trayvon White-Austin in the 200m.
Landa and White-Austin were among seven individuals to score podium finishes. The women’s 4x400m relay team also earned third place.
“It was the very first Big 12 Championships ever for us and the energy level that we had as a team and as a conference was really special,” said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Fred Harvey. “It allowed our athletes to compete at the highest level. We were seventh overall in what I consider to be the best indoor conference championship in the country and the times and performances prove that.”
Arizona athletes ranked in the top 16 nationally will compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Virginia Beach, Va., on March 14-15.
Lead photo courtesy of Arizona Athletics