Austin, Texas ? Kansas University’s swimming and diving team was in fourth place Thursday after the second day of the four-day Big 12 Conference championships.

The Jayhawks have a two-day score of 1471/2 points heading into today’s action, trailing third-place Iowa State by 71/2 points.

“As a team, today was our most challenging day of competition,” KU coach Clark Campbell said. “(Today) and Saturday will be strong days for us. To get through this rough day in a good position to move up to third place is great. We want to keep rolling and getting fast times and putting points on the board.”

Beth Schryer (4:54.75) and Gina Gnatzig (4:55.20) sparked the Jayhawks, finishing sixth and seventh Thursday in the 500-yard freestyle. Gnatzig took six seconds off of her personal-best time.

In the 200 IM, Kristen Johnson swam a career-best time of 2:04.88, good for 12th place, and Gwen Haley finished 14th in 2:05.56.

Amy Gruber recorded Kansas’ highest individual finish, taking fifth in the 50 freestyle in 23.27. Jackie Krueger swam the 50 freestyle in a time of 23.90, good for 15th place. Diver Kristi Misejka was 10th and Tayler Eldridge claimed 19th in the three-meter competition. The Jayhawks took fifth in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:34.11.

In the men’s competition, Texas A&M’s Matt Rose won the 50 freestyle and helped the Aggies win the men’s 200 freestyle relay. Rose won the 50-yard freestyle in 19.66 seconds, defeating two-time defending Big 12 champion Ian Crocker of Texas, who finished fifth in 20.52. Rose qualified for the NCAA championships.

Rose also helped the Aggies win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:18.77. Texas finished second (1:19.28) and Missouri finished third (1:23.75).

Competition continues today with one-meter diving, the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and the 400 medley relay.