2021 Big Ten Men’s Championships: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

2021 BIG TEN MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS

• When: Tuesday, March 2nd to Saturday, March 6th | Prelims 11am | Finals 5pm Tues, 6:30pm Wed-Sat (ET)
• Where: Ohio State University (Eastern Time Zone)
• Defending Champion: Michigan (1x) (2020 results)
• Streaming: Big Ten Network
• Championship Central
• Live Results

Today, Michigan and Indiana will need to close the gap on Ohio State, otherwise, the Buckeyes might run away with the Big Ten title. Purdue is squarely in fourth and Wisconsin in fifth, while Northwestern sits in sixth, as Penn State, Minnesota and Iowa are all close behind.

Today will see prelims of the 100 fly, 400 IM and 200 free.

THURSDAY MORNING HEAT SHEETS

TEAM SCORES (THROUGH DAY 2)

1. Ohio State – 628
2. Indiana – 547.5
3. Michigan – 526
4. Purdue – 414.5
5. Wisconsin – 345
6. Northwestern – 296
7. Penn State – 267
8. Minnesota – 259
9. Iowa – 250
10. Michigan State – 102

100 FLY – PRELIMS

• Big Ten meet record – 44.79, Vini Lanza (Indiana) – 2018
• Big Ten record – 44.37, Vini Lanza (Indiana) – 2019
• 2020 NCAA invite time – 45.97
• Defending champion: Miles Smachlo (Michigan), 45.05

Top 8

1. Tomer Frankel (Indiana) – 45.08
2. River Wright (Michigan) – 45.24
3. Brendan Burns (Indiana) – 45.71
4. Wes Jekel (Wisconsin) – 46.32
5. Erik Gessner (Wisconsin) – 46.51
6. Van Mathias (Indiana) – 46.55
7. Corey Gambardella (Indiana) – 46.65
8. Trent Pellini (Purdue) – 46.72

Indiana freshman Tomer Frankel stormed to the finish in the 100 fly, hitting a 45.08 lifetime best to edge out Michigan’s River Wright (45.24) in the final heat this morning. Wisconsin’s Wes Jekel was third in that heat at 46.32, and he’s through to the A-final in fourth. Frankel will now prepare for his 200 free prelims swim, as he’s pulling a double this morning.

The penultimate heat went to Wisconsin’s Erik Gessner in a time of 46.51, with Indiana’s Corey Gambardella in second at 46.65 and Purdue’s Trent Pellini third in 46.72.

Indiana sophomore Brendan Burns won heat seven, posting a 45.71, a quarter-second off of his best. Ohio State’s Sem Andreis was 46.90 for second in the heat.

Charles Morici of Michigan dominated heat five, the freshman hitting the wall at 47.12. Justin Fleagle, an OSU freshman, was 47.02 to win heat six, dropping over a second from his old best.

The Hoosiers performed very well here, getting four up into the A-final, while Wisconsin put up two. Michigan and Purdue each had one, and Ohio State had none, so we’ll see IU and Michigan move up on the Buckeyes in this event tonight.

400 IM – PRELIMS

• Big Ten meet record – 3:38.03, Tyler Clary (Michigan) – 2009
• Big Ten record – 3:35.98, Tyler Clary (Michigan) – 2009
• 2020 NCAA invite time – 3:44.36
• Defending champion: Charlie Swanson (Michigan), 3:40.26

Top 8

1. Michael Daly (Penn State) – 3:43.29
2. Caleb Aman (Wisconsin) – 3:43.33
3. Jared Daigle (Michigan) – 3:43.47
4. Danny Berlitz (Michigan) – 3:44.43
5. Spencer Lehman (Indiana) – 3:45.95
6. Will Roberts (Michigan) – 3:46.08
7. Jeffrey Durmer (Northwestern) – 3:46.13
8. Will Lulek (Penn State) – 3:46.22

The final heat was a battle to the wall, as Michigan’s Danny Berlitz clocked a 3:44.43, torching Indiana’s Spencer Lehman on the free leg. Lehman will meet Berlitz again in the A-final after his 3:45.95 this morning.

In heat four, Northwestern’s Jeffrey Durmer raced to the win, going 3:46.13 to slice a tenth off of his old best. Durmer will race in the A-final tonight; last year, he was in the B-final, and DQ’d at night.

Michigan’s Jared Daigle dominated heat three, posted a 3:43.47. After swimming in the C-final last year, Daigle will appear in the A-final this time around.

Heat two saw Wisconsin’s Caleb Aman build a massive lead on the breast leg, winning by almost half a pool length at the end in 3:43.33. Minnesota freshman Sawyer Grimes snagged a personal best 3:49.93 for second in that heat.

In heat one, Penn State’s Michael Daly threw down a 3:43.29, ahead of Michigan’s Will Roberts (3:46.08). Both men were entered without a time.

Michigan makes a move here with three A-finalists, with Penn State nabbing two spots of their own.

200 FREE – PRELIMS

• Big Ten meet record – 1:31.14, Blake Pieroni (Indiana) – 2018
• Big Ten record – 1:29.63, Blake Pieroni (Indiana) – 2018
• 2020 NCAA invite time – 1:34.07
• Defending champion: Andrew Loy (Ohio State), 1:31.88

Top 8

1. Paul Delakis (Ohio State) – 1:33.55
2. Tomer Frankel (Indiana) – 1:33.76
3. Patrick Callan (Michigan) – 1:33.78
4. Gus Borges (Michigan) – 1:33.79
5. Jake Mitchell (Michigan) – 1:33.93
6. Wyatt Davis (Michigan) – 1:34.92
7. Aleksa Bobar (Northwestern) – 1:35.22
8. Connor LaMastra (Northwestern) – 1:35.42

In the last heat, Michigan’s Gus Borges opened up a big lead on the front-half, but Patrick Callan brought it home on the back-half, ultimately touching ahead at 1:33.78. Borges broke 1:34 for the first time, going 1:33.79.

Coming off of his big 100 fly, Indiana freshman Tomer Frankel powered to another win, going 1:33.76 for the penultimate heat victory. Michigan freshman Wyatt Davis was second in 1:34.92, ahead of Northwestern sophomore Aleksa Bobar (1:35.22).

In heat five, Ohio State’s Paul Delakis muscled his way to the heat win, easing into the wall at 1:33.55 ahead of a charging Jake Mitchell of Michigan (1:33.93).

With outside smoke in heat two, Connor LaMastra (Northwestern) dropped a half-second off his lifetime best, touching at 1:35.42 from lane eight.

Michigan had another big showing here, with four into this A-final, while Northwestern got two in. Last year, Northwestern didn’t have more than one into the A-final in any event, so this was a big 200 free for them, as they also got two into the B-final and one into the C-final.