2017 Big Ten Championships: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

2017 B1G WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, February 15th to Saturday, February 18th | Prelims 11am | Finals 6:30pm
• Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (Eastern Time Zone)
• Defending Champions: Michigan Wolverines (results)
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results
• Live Stream via Big Ten Network
• Championship Central

Last night was a monumental night for Big Ten swimming, as Indiana sophomore Lilly King smashed the first American record of the 2017 collegiate postseason. She chopped a full half-second from her own American record set at 2016 NCAAs to go from 56.85 to 56.30, winning the event by 2.6 seconds over a packed field.

The same session saw another pair of Big Ten record swims from Indiana senior Gia Dalesandro in the 100 fly, who went 50.45 for fifth in the all-time rankings, and Michigan sophomore Siobhan Haughey in 200 free, who defended her title in the 200 free and cut a half second to take the conference, meet, and pool record trifecta. That swim brought on some redemption for the Hong Kong Olympic semi-finalist, who finished first but disqualified the 200 IM the night before.

At the end of the night yesterday, Michigan had made up for the points lost in that IM swim, retaking a narrow overall lead with 805.5 to second-place Indiana’s 791. Minnesota sits third with 753 and Wisconsin fourth with 741.

This morning, we’ll see the final prelims session of Big Ten Conference Championship, featuring a 200 back field led by Indiana’s Canadian Olympian Kennedy Goss, a 100 free sprint showdown between Haughey and Ohio State junior Li Zhesi, a 200 breast sure to be dominated by King and Minnesota’s senior Canadian Olympian Kierra Smith, and a 200 fly race featuring freshman former junior national teamer Vanessa Krause of Indiana versus the senior veteran Dalesandro.

200 Yard Back – Prelims

• B1G Record: 1:49.92 2010 Kate Fesenko, Indiana
• B1G Meet: 1:51.32 2010 Kate Fesenko, Indiana
• Pool: 1:49.92 2010 Kate Fesenko, IND
• 1:51.95 A NCAA Qualifying
• 1:59.19 B NCAA Provisional

1. Kennedy Goss, Indiana: 1:52.02
2. Beata Nelson, Wisconsin: 1:52.31
3. Clara Smiddy, Michigan: 1:52.43
4. Gabby Deloof, Michigan: 1:54.31
5. Vera Koprivova, Rutgers: 1:54.66
6. Tevyn Waddell, Minnesota: 1:54.85
7. Erin Oeltjen, Nebraska: 1:55.17
8. Chantal Nack, Minnesota: 1:55.24

The women’s 200 back final tonight is going to be a close contest, after Indiana junior and last year’s silver medalist Kennedy Goss (1:52.02), Wisconsin freshman Beata Nelson (1:52.31), and defending champion Michigan junior Clara Smiddy (1:52.43) all made it in under 1:53.

Also making it into the championship are last year’s fourth-place finisher Gabby Deloof (1:54.31) of Michigan, last year’s fifth-place finisher Vera Koprivava (1:54.66) of Rutgers, Minnesota’s Tevyn Waddell, Nebraska’s Erin Oeltjen (1:55.17, up from 16th place last year), and Minnesota’s Chantal Nack. 

100 Yard Freestyle – Prelims

• B1G Record: 47.24 2015 Ivy Martin, Wisconsin
• B1G Meet: 47.58 2/21/2015 Ivy Martin, Wisconsin
• Pool: 47.50 2005 Kara Lynn Joyce, UGA
• 47.69 A NCAA Qualifying
• 49.99 B NCAA Provisional

1. Li Zhesi, Ohio State: 48.08
2. Siobhan Haughey, Michigan: 48.17
3. Zoe Avestruz, Minnesota: 48.33
4. Chase Kinney, Wisconsin: 48.38
5. Catie Deloof, Michigan: 48.95
6. Emmy Sehmann, Wisconsin: 49.02
7. Marissa Berg, Wisconsin: 49.03
8. Annika Winsnes, Northwestern: 49.33

As predicted, the women’s 100 freestyle is shaping up to be a tight race between Ohio State’s Li Zhesi, who tied her own Big Ten record in the 50 on Thursday, and Michigan’s Siobhan Haughey, who set a new Big Ten record in the 200 yesterday. They finished this morning in 48.08 and 48.17, respectively.

However, Minnesota sophomore Zoe Avestruz and Wisconsin senior Chase Kinney are both well within striking distance and have the chance to pull off a major upset over the Li/Haughey duo tonight. Avestruz finished in 48.33 and Kinney hit 48.38 this morning. Avestruz set a Big Ten record of her own as part of Minnesota’s 200 medley relay on Wednesday, while Kinney pulled off the fastest anchor split of the whole field in that same race.

Also in the final tonight will be Michigan’s Catie Deloof (48.95), Wisconsin’s Emmy Sehmann (49.02), Wisconsin’s Marissa Berg (49.03), and Northwestern’s Annika Winsnes (49.33).

200 Yard Breaststroke – Prelims

• B1G Record: 2:03.59 3/19/2016 Lilly King, Indiana
• B1G Meet: 2:05.98 2/23/2013 Haley Spencer, Minnesota
• Pool: 2:07.30 2015 Emily Fogle, Purdue
• 2:07.33 A NCAA Qualifying
• 2:15.99 B NCAA Provisional

1. Kierra Smith, Minnesota: 2:06.81
2. Lilly King, Indiana: 2:07.67
3. Taylor Vargo, Ohio State: 2:08.56
4. Maria Carlson, Wisconsin: 2:08.89
5. Emily Kopas, Michigan: 2:09.99
6. Emma Sougstad, Iowa: 2:10.62
7. Lindsey Horejsi, Minnesota: 2:10.75
8. Laura Morley, Indiana: 2:11.50

It’s going to be a battle of the Rio Olympians in the Big Ten Conference Championship 200 breaststroke tonight between Minnesota senior out of Canada Kierra Smith and Indiana’s Olympic gold medalist Lilly King. 

This morning, Smith came in with an NCAA ‘A’ mark and pool record 2:06.81, while King finished second with 2:07.67. But, expect it to be a tight race. King is on fire this week, as the first American record-setter of the NCAA post-season, and she is a famously fierce competitor. But, Olympic finalist Smith is entirely in her element in this race, and, because she redshirted last year to train for the Olympics, the two have never battled the 200 breast on the Big Ten stage before.

Taylor Vargo of Ohio State and Maria Carlson of Wisconsin should shape up into a lively battle for third tonight, after hitting 2:08.56 and 2:08.89 this morning. Emily Kopas of Michigan (2:09.99), Emma Sougstad of Iowa (2:10.62), Lindsey Horejsi of Minnesota (2:10.75), and Laura Morley of Indiana (2:11.50) will round out the final.

200 Yard Butterfly – Prelims

• B1G Record: 1:53.95 2014 Gia Dalesandro, Indiana
• B1G Meet: 1:53.95 2/23/2014 Gia Dalesandro, Indiana
• Pool: 1:52.39 2010 Elaine Breeden, STAN
• 1:54.01 A NCAA Qualifying
• 1:59.59 B NCAA Provisional

1. Gia Dalesandro, Indiana: 1:56.26
2. Astrid Swensen, Michigan: 1:56.30
3. Danielle Nack, Minnesota: 1:56.46
4. Vanessa Krause, Michigan: 1:56.68
5. Katelynn Sowinski, Penn State: 1:56.78
6. Taite Kitchel, Purdue: 1:56.91
7. Bailey Pressey, Indiana: 1:56.93
8. Meg Bailey, Ohio State: 1:56.99

Three-time Big Ten 200 fly champion Gia Dalesandro is looking to round out a perfect Big Ten record in the event tonight. However, the field could hardly be closer than it is going into the final. Only .73 seconds separate Dalesandro, this morning’s top qualifier with 1:56.26 from Ohio State’s Meg Bailey, this morning’s eighth-place finisher with 1:56.99.

Filling in the middle six swimmers are Astrid Swensen of Michigan (1:56.30), Danielle Nack of Minnesota (1:56.46, last season’s runner-up), Vanessa Krause of Michigan (1:56.68), Katelynn Sowinski of Penn State (1:56.78), Taite Kitchel of Purdue (1:56.91), and Bailey Pressey of Indiana (1:56.93).

Platform Diving – Prelims

• B1G Record: 424.45 2015 Jessica Parratto, Indiana
• B1G Meet: 424.45 2/21/2015 Jessica Parratto, Indiana
• 225.00 A NCAA Qualifying

1. Jessi Parratto, Indiana: 322.50
2. Lexi Tenenbaum, Minnesota: 317.05
3. Emily Meaney, Purdue: 315.60
4. Yu Zhou, Minnesota: 314.45
5. Olivia Rosandahl, Northwestern: 300.95
6. Lara Tarvit, Ohio State: 282.25
7. Addi Walkowiak, Rutgers: 268.55
8. Calli Head, Iowa: 266.30

Jessi Parratto of Indiana was the top diving qualifier this morning, after scoring 322.50 points. Minnesota’s Lexi Tenenbaum was second with 317.05, followed by Purdue’s Emily Meaney with 315.60.