KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --- Texas A&M sophomore Breeja Larson flirted with her own school record in the 100-yard breaststroke but settled for an easy win and NCAA "A" cut at the Tennessee Invitational on Thursday.
After two days of action, the Aggies lead the team competion with 783 points, followed by Tennessee (471), Louisville (449.5), Arkansas (383), LSU (371.5), Kentucky (226) and Southern Illinois (35).
Larson's three-plus second victory in the 100 breast paced an Aggie attack that earned six first-place finishes and 14 NCAA qualifying times or scores. Larson, the NCAA runner-up at both the 100 and 200 distance in the breaststroke last year, turned in a time of 58.68, which was just off her record of 58.51. Teammate Erica Dittmer grabbed second in the race with a NCAA "B" cut time of 1:02.25.
The Aggies opened and closed Thursday's action with relay victories. The 200 medley relay of junior Tess Simpson, Larson, sophomore Caroline McElhany and Dittmer touched first with a "B" cut tie of 1:39.09. The 800 free relay of junior Maureen McLaine, junior Jaclin Rehring, freshman Kelli Benjamin and senior Megan Latone logged a "B" cut in 7:15.53.
A&M earned the victory and a pair of "B" cuts in the 400 IM with sophomore Cammile Adams taking the win in 4:09.24 and senior Alyssa Conner placing fifth in 4:18.25.
The Aggies tallied two more "B" cuts in the 100 fly with McElhany placing second in 53.60, and senior Rita Medrano winning the consolation final in 53.83.
A&M was dominant in the 100 back with a 1-2-3 sweep, all with NCAA "B" cut clockings. Simpson grabbed the gold in 53.70 and was trailed by senior Anna Heller (54.06) and Latone (54.20).
The Aggies' pair of senior divers was the class of the three-meter diving field. Jaele Patrick continued her perfect season with her sixth straight win with a score of 385.50 and Janie Potvin took second with a score of 342.80.
Since it's an Olympic year, the UT Invitational's morning prelims are being contested at the 50-meter long course distance, and a trio of Aggies earned their U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying cuts in Thursday's morning session.
Grabbing their Trials cuts were Cammile Adams in the 400-meter freestyle, Carol McElhany in the 100-meter fly prelims and Breeja Larson in the 100-meter breaststroke. Adams was the top qualifier in the 400 free with a time of 4:48.29, McElhany was the top qualifier in the 100-meter fly prelims with 1.00.61, and Larson was the top qualifier in the 100-meter breaststroke with 1:07.63.
Texas A&M Results/NCAA qualifiers
200 Yard Medley Relay
1 T.Simpson, B. Larson, C. Mcelhany, E. Dittmer 1:39.09 B
400 Yard IM
1 Adams, Cammile 20 Texas A&M-GU 4:09.24 B
5 Conner, Alyssa 21 Texas A&M-GU 4:18.25 B
100 Fly
2 McElhany, Carol 19 Texas A&M-GU 53.60 B
9 Medrano, Rita M 21 Texas A&M-GU 53.83 B
200 Free
2 McLaine, Mauree 20 Texas A&M-GU 1:47.46 B
100 breast
1 Larson, Breeja 19 Texas A&M-GU 58.68 A
2 Dittmer, Erica 20 Texas A&M-GU 1:02.25 B
100 back
1 Simpson, Tess A 20 Texas A&M-GU 53.70 B
2 Heller, Anna M 21 Texas A&M-GU 54.06 B
3 Latone, Megan A 21 Texas A&M-GU 54.20 B
3m dive
1 Patrick, Jaele Texas A&M-GU 385.50 Z
2 Potvin, Janie Texas A&M-GU 342.80 Z
800 Free Relay
1 Texas A&M-GU 'A' 7:15.53 B
1) McLaine, Maureen 20 2) Rehring, Jaclin R 21
3) Benjamin, Kelli A 18 4) Latone, Megan A 21