NCAA Women’s Swimming : Texas Wins Three Events, Takes Lead

Junior Patty Sabo of Texas beat Olympian Mary Wayte of Florida in the 400-yard individual medley and the Lady Longhorns took first in two other events Friday to lead after two days of competition in the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships.

Texas, chasing its third straight team title, has 462 points going into today’s final six events. Stanford, which led after the first day, is second with 416 points, and Florida, expected to make a run at Texas with its strength in the three-meter diving competition, is third at 400. No other team is in contention for the title as fourth-place California has 163 points.

Sabo used the butterfly leg of the medley to pull ahead and was clocked in 4:16.58. Wayte, the defending NCAA champion, finished in 4:16.87 for second.

Texas’ pair of Betsy Mitchell and Debbie Risen finished 1-2 in the 100 back and teammate Tori Trees took sixth to give Texas a meet-high 50 points for the event. Mitchell won in 55 seconds with Risen second in 55.09. Texas added another first in the 400-yard medley relay.