2021 Big Ten Women’s Championships: Day Five Prelims Live Recap

2021 BIG TEN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS

• When: Tuesday, February 23rd to Saturday, February 27th | Prelims 11am | Finals 6:30pm (5pm Tuesday) CT
• Where: Minneapolis, MN (Central Time Zone) / Diving @ Purdue University
• Defending Champion: Ohio State (1x) (results)
• Live Results
• Streaming: Big Ten Network
• Championship Central

TEAM SCORES (THROUGH 200 FREE RELAY)

1. Ohio State – 1139.5
2. Michigan – 940.5
3. Indiana – 705
4. Northwestern – 694.5
5. Wisconsin – 511
6. Minnesota – 427
7. Nebraska – 382
8. Iowa – 354.5
9. Penn State/Purdue – 309
10. –
11. Michigan State – 181
12. Ilinois – 145
13. Rutgers – 60

Day 5 Prelims Heat Sheet

It’s set to be another light morning session for the officials on deck at the 2021 Big Ten Women’s Championships, with the prelims of the 100 free, 200 back, and 100 breast on the slate. Ohio State currently leads by nearly 200 points over Michigan, with Indiana sitting just 10.5 points ahead of Northwestern for third place.

Northwestern senior Maddie Smith has been on fire at her last Big Ten meet, picking up a pair of 3rd-place finishes in the 50 free and 100 fly. She comes in as the top seed in the 100 free at 48.24. With the meet Smith has been having, she will certainly swim much faster. The defending Big Ten champion, Michigan junior Maggie MacNeil, also holds the conference record in this event at 46.57. She is seeded second with a current season best of 49.24.

In the 200 back, Wisconsin freshman Phoebe Bacon will aim to sweep the backstroke events in Minnesota. Bacon currently holds the top seed at 1:51.63. Keep an eye on 2020 event runner-up Emma Lepisova of Northwestern and Kristen Romano of Ohio State, who won the 200/400 IM events already this week.

With Aussie Calypso Sheridan‘s absence for Northwestern, the Wildcats still have sophomore Hannah Brunzell in the 200 breast. Brunzell already placed 3rd in the 100 breast final behind teammate Sophie Angus, who is seeded second in the long breast event. Last year’s top three finishers, Indiana teammates Noelle Peplowski and Emily Weiss, will also contest in the 200 breast.

Women’s 100 Free — Prelims

• Big Ten Meet Record: 46.57 – Maggie MacNeil (Michigan) – 2020
• Big Ten Record: 46.57 – Maggie MacNeil (Michigan) – 2020
• NCAA B Cut: 49.51
• Defending Champion: Maggie MacNeil (Michigan) – 46.57

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Daria Pyshnenko (Michigan), 47.92
2. Maggie MacNeil (Michigan), 47.95
3. Taylor Petrak (Ohio State), 48.33
4. Maddie Smith (Northwestern), 48.40
5. Ashley Turak (Indiana), 48.75
6. Amy Fulmer (Ohio State), 48.87
7. Selen Ozbilen (Northwestern), 48.91
8. Katherine Zenick (Ohio State), 48.92

Scoring the top two seeds in the 100 free were Michigan Wolverines Daria Pyshnenko (47.92) and Maggie MacNeil (47.95), both going under 48 seconds.  Meanwhile, Ohio State picked up 3 A-finalists: #3 Taylor Petrak (48.33), #6 Amy Fulmer (48.87), and #8 Katherine Zenick (48.92).

Picking up the 4th seed was Northwestern’s Maddie Smith, clocking in a modest 48.40 morning swim. Swimming in for 7th this morning was teammate Selen Ozbilen (48.91). Meanwhile, Indiana’s lone A-finalist was #5 Ashley Turak (48.75).

Women’s 200 Back — Prelims

• Big Ten Meet Record: 1:48.47 – Beata Nelson (Wisconsin) – 2019
• Big Ten Record: 1:47.24 – Beata Nelson (Wisconsin) – 2019
• NCAA B Cut: 1:57.11
• Defending Champion: Beata Nelson (Wisconsin), 1:48.73

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Phoebe Bacon (Wisconsin)- 1:53.42
2. Kristen Romano (Ohio State)- 1:53.88
3. Mariella Venter (Michigan)- 1:53.92
4. Mara Newman (Wisconsin)- 1:54.14
5. Emma Lepisova (Northwestern)- 1:54.35
6. Bailey Kovac (Indiana)- 1:54.39
7. Sophie Housey (Michigan)- 1:55.96
8. Indy Jongman (Minnesota)- 1:56.11

Setting herself up to sweep the backstroke events tonight is Wisconsin freshman Phoebe Bacon, who clocked the top time this morning at 1:53.42. In the first circle-seeded heat, Ohio State senior Kristen Romano finished strong to clock the 2nd-fastest time at 1:53.88. Romano is the lone Buckeye in the 200 back A-final. Joining Bacon in the final is #4 Mara Newman, swimming in at 1:54.44.

Michigan picked up two A-finalists, #3 Mariella Venter (1:53.92) and #7 Sophie Housey (1:55.96), while the rest of the A-final will include #5 Northwestern’s Emma Lepisova (1:54.35), #6 Indiana’s Bailey Kovac (1:54.39), and #8 Minnesota’s Indy Jongman (1:56.11).

Housey’s swim knocked two seconds off her previous lifetime best of 1:57.64 from the 2018 NCSA Spring Championships. Meanwhile, IU senior Kovac’s swim took down her 1:56.53 best all the way from the 2015 Winter Junior Nationals – West when she was 17.

Women’s 200 Breast — Prelims

• Big Ten Meet Record: 2:04.03 – Lilly King (Indiana) – 2017
• Big Ten Record: 2:02.90 – Lilly King (Indiana) – 2019
• NCAA B Cut: 2:13.97
• Defending Champion: Calypso Sheridan (Northwestern), 2:06.85

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Emily Weiss (Indiana)- 2:08.79
2. Mac Looze/Noelle Peplowski (Indiana)- 2:09.65
3. –
4. Sophie Angus (Northwestern)- 2:09.96
5. Hannah Brunzell (Northwestern)- 2:10.45
6. Hannah Gresser (Ohio State)- 2:11.53
7. Rebecca Kamau (Northwestern)- 2:11.91
8. Hannah Bach (Ohio State)- 2:12.01

The Indiana Hoosiers had a huge showing the 200 breast, with the top 3 overall swimmers hitting sub-2:10. Leading the way was sophomore Emily Weiss, clocking in a 2:08.79. At last year’s meet, Weiss swam her lifetime best of 2:07.73 to place 3rd in finals. Tying for second this morning were Hoosier teammates Mac Looze and Noelle Peplowski, both clocking in at 2:09.65. Peplowski was last year’s runner-up, clocking in 2:07.02 to earn silver. For senior Looze, her morning swim was her first time under 2:10. Her previous lifetime best was 2:11.07 from the 2019 NCAA Championships.

Northwestern picked up three A-final swims as well: #4 Sophie Angus (2:09.96), #5 Hannah Brunzell (2:10.45), and #7 Rebecca Kamau (2:11.91). Ohio State also returned #6 Hannah Gresser (2:11.53) and #8 Hannah Bach (2:12.01).

Qualifying 9th in the B-final by two one-hundredths was Ohio State sophomore Josephine Panitz (2:12.03).

Beginning at 4:30pm CT will be the timed finals of the 1650 free. The fastest-seeded heat will start of tonight’s finals session.