2020 Men’s Big Ten Championships: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2020 B1G MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2020 men’s Big Ten Championships kick off tonight in Bloomington, Indiana. Swimmers are set to compete in the 200 medley relay and 800 free relay. Michigan enters as the defending 200 medley relay champion after setting the Big Ten Meet Record last season. In the 800 free relay, however, it’s Indiana looking to repeat as champions.

Swimmers will get a first chance to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the 200 free on the 800 free relay leadoff, provided they haven’t already done so with their season best times.

MEN’S 200 MEDLEY RELAY

  • Big Ten Meet Record: Michigan (2019) – 1:22.76
  • NCAA Record: Texas (2017) – 1:21.54
  • NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:24.30
  • 2019 Champion: Michigan – 1:22.76
  1. GOLD: Indiana, 1:23.07
  2. SILVER: Michigan, 1:24.16
  3. BRONZE: Purdue, 1:24.44

Indiana’s Gabriel Fantoni raced to a 21.17 back split to give the Hoosiers the early lead. They never let up as Zane Backes (breast- 23.08), Brendan Burns (fly- 20.20), and Bruno Blaskovic (free- 18.62) followed to win the race in 1:23.07, taking down the Pool Record in the process. Burns, a freshman, had the fastest fly split of the field.

Michigan’s Miles Smachlo brought them from behind in the battle for 2nd with his 20.22 fly split, and Luiz Gustavo Borges anchored in 18.82 for the Wolverines as they finished in 1:24.16. Purdue (1:24.44) was in 2nd through the breast leg after Trent Pellini‘s 23.20 split. Ohio State (1:24.54) anchor Semuede Andreis had the fastest anchor split of the field to try and run them down for bronze, but came up just short after an 18.48 split.

Hudson McDaniel put up a quick 23.02 breast split for the Buckeyes. The fastest of the field, however, came from Minnesota (1:25.39). Max McHugh split a 22.99 as they placed 7th.

MEN’S 800 FREE RELAY

  • Big Ten Meet Record: Michigan (2014) – 6:09.85
  • NCAA Record: Texas (2019) – 6:05.08
  • 200 Free 2019 NCAA Invite: 1:34.21
  • NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 6:17.18
  • 200 Free ‘A’ Cut: 1:32.05
  • 2019 Champion: Indiana – 6:11.02
  1. GOLD: Michigan, 6:11.46
  2. SILVER: Ohio State, 6:15.36
  3. BRONZE: Indiana, 6:15.53

Michigan ran away with the title, setting a new Pool Record in 6:11.46. Kevin Callan led them off in 1:32.90, clipping a hundredth from his best. Felix Auboeck had their fastest split with a 1:31.85. Charlie Swanson (1:33,08) and Tommy Cope (1:33.63) took on the closing legs.

Ohio State (6:15.36) led through the halfway point. Andrew Loy had the fastest leadoff split with a lifetime best 1:32.37. Paul DeLakis took on the 2nd leg with a field-best 1:31.44. Indiana (6:15.53) started to close the gap with Brendan Burns (1:34.59) and Jack Franzman (1:34.43) on the back half, but came up just short in the battle for 2nd.

Wisconsin’s Cameron Tysoe dropped a second from his best in 1:34.09 to lead off the 4th-place Badgers (6:19.34). Iowa’s Mateusz Arndt (1:34.61) swam their fastest split as they took 5th in 6:20.84.

TEAM SCORES THROUGH DAY 1

  1. Michigan 120
  2. Indiana 118
  3. Ohio State 108
  4. Wisconsin 100
  5. Penn State 96
  6. (TIE 6TH) Purdue 94
  7. (TIE 6TH) Iowa 94
  8. Minnesota 90
  9. Northwestern 88
  10. Michigan State 68

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MaizeBlue
4 years ago

We know him as Patrick

buckeyetilidie
4 years ago

Let’s go Bucks baby!!!

Crick
4 years ago

Northwestern #bigsad

#MFan
4 years ago

Good to see Felix throwing down a great time! Last year’s adversity at NCAAs may pay some nice dividends this year! His fastest 200 Free flat start is 1:32.02 from 2017. Looking good!
(not to mention the whole relay is 4-5 seconds faster than last year.)

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  #MFan
4 years ago

How he pulled off the 1650 win after choking in the 500 and 200 last year was amazing.

Konner Scott
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

It’s all about what you’re willing to sell.

BaldingEagle
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

Ballsy.

Will 37
4 years ago

Impressive double by freshman Brendan Burns. This guy with a 1:34 split after 20.2 50 fly really show the massive potential in years to come. I think he might have a chance at Conger’s 200 fly yards record in his college years.

Konner Scott
Reply to  Will 37
4 years ago

Lots of downvotes but I don’t disagree with this. I think with his underwaters, his endurance, and his trajectory, 1:37 isn’t out of the question. Unlikely, maybe, but I wouldn’t count him out.

Crick
4 years ago

Purdue baby!!!

Dabestestman
Reply to  Crick
4 years ago

Yep Purdue will be time trialing the heck out of the 200 Medley trying to get into the shoooo.

Bswims
4 years ago

Sem Andreis of OSU throwing down a monstrous 18.4 after missing Big tens last season

Dabestestman
Reply to  Bswims
4 years ago

18.4 is a good split BUT hardly “monstrous”. Ask Dressel

BSwims
Reply to  Dabestestman
4 years ago

Ok but fastest in the big ten and coming from a guy who’s best time is 19.9. Monstrous in my eyes. Dressel is an unfair comparison to literally anyone.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Dabestestman
4 years ago

About what Dressel did at his conference meets, so your point?

mr fast guy
4 years ago

This is some impressively bad commentary

bula
Reply to  mr fast guy
4 years ago

“The 100 free is just about the 200 free”

B1G fan
Reply to  mr fast guy
4 years ago

Yes it is… they seem to think the first heat of relays don’t score.

frizzaly
Reply to  mr fast guy
4 years ago

Didn’t you hear? Relay wins are worth 12 points

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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