2024 Men’s Big Ten Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2024 MEN’S BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Dates: February 28 – March 2, 2024
• Location: McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion – Columbus, Ohio
• Defending champions: Indiana (2x)
• SCY (25 yards)
• Championship Central
• Live Results
• Live Video
• Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

Thursday Finals Heat Sheet

It’s the second night of the 2024 Men’s Big Ten Championships, and we will see the first individual finals of the meet. The 500 freestyle, 200 IM, and 50 freestyle are on the docket, with 1-meter diving and 400 medley relay action ending the night.

This morning, Minnesota’s Bar Soloveychik (4:12.76) posted the fastest 500 freestyle qualifying time, which equaled his best time (and Minnesota school record) from the 2022 NCAA Championships. Soloveychik was 2nd in this event at last year’s Big Ten Championships, but is the top returner this year. The defending champion, Wisconsin’s Jake Newmark, opted for the 50 free over the 500 today.

The 200 IM was led by two Michigan swimmers this morning, with Gal Cohen Groumi (1:41.76) claiming top seed honors. He hit the wall in 1:41.76 in his heat, with teammate Eitan Ben-Shitrit (1:42.61) the only other swimmer under 1:43. Cohen Groumi is the defending champion from last year, where he won with a time of 1:41.20. Ben-Shitrit was 3rd last year, clocking 1:43.31 in the final.

Wisconsin’s Taiko Torepe-Ormsby posted the fastest 50 freestyle time during prelims, swimming to a final time of 19.15. Bence Szabados of Michigan is in close pursuit, as he stopped the clock in 19.18 to qualify 2nd.

MEN’S 500 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 4:06.32 – Kieran Smith, Texas (2020)
• Big Ten Record: 4:08.60 – Peter Vanderkaay, Michigan (2006)
• Big Ten Championship Record: 4:09.29 – Felix Auboeck, Michigan (2018)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:10.74
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 4:14.36

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Yigit Aslan (WISC) – 4:11.20
2. Bar Soloveychik (MINN) – 4:11.49
3. Alex Axon (OSU) – 4:13.90
4. Andrew Martin (NU) – 4:14.62
5. Alex Metzler (OSU) – 4:15.78
6. Charlie Clark (OSU) – 4:16.62
7. Sam Campbell (OSU) – 4:19.08
8. Logan Zucker (MICH) – 4:20.11

Wisconsin junior Yigit Aslan had a great swim in tonight’s 500 free, grabbing the Big Ten title in a new best time of 4:11.20. Trailing Minnesota’s Bar Soloveychik with 50 to go, Aslan split 23.64 on the final 50 to secure victory. Aslan was 5th at these championships a year ago, where he hit the touchpad in 4:15.20. He dropped to 4:13.35 in today’s prelims before his massive 4:11.20 best time tonight.

Soloveychik replicated his 2nd place finish from a year ago, posting a time of 4:11.49 for his first ever sub-4:12 swim. He matched his best time of 4:12.76 this morning, and broke the Minnesota 200 free school record yesterday. Ohio State’s Alex Axon (4:13.90) finished 3rd tonight, with teammates Alex Metzler (4:15.78), Charlie Clark (4:16.62), and Sam Campbell (4:19.08) securing 5th, 6th, and 7th. This event was a big points swing for the Buckeyes, as they represented half of the A-final.

Northwestern’s Andrew Martin (4:14.62) and Michigan’s Logan Zucker (4:20.11) also made an appearance in the championship final, placing 4th and 8th overall.

Luukas Vainio, a freshman at Wisconsin, dropped 0.18 from his prelim time to win the B-final. He stopped the clock in 4:18.24, marking his second lifetime best of the day after dropping from 4:21.89 to 4:18.42 earlier today. Two other swimmers dipped under the 4:20-barrier, with Michigan’s Connor Hunt (4:19.70) getting the touch ahead of Wisconsin’s Zachary Ward (4:19.81). The time from Ward is a milestone, as it checks-in as his first ever sub-4:20 outing.

Michigan sophomore Jack Luken was victorious in the C-final, dropping 1.69 seconds from his preliminary effort. He touched the wall in 4:20.16, which represents his second best time of the day. Minnesota’s Christopher Nagy (4:21.46) and Ohio State’s Tomas Navikonis (4:22.07) touched for 2nd and 3rd in the heat. Navikonis was integral on OSU’s runner-up 800 free relay last night, where he led-off in a new best time of 1:32.17.

MEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 1:36.34 – Leon Marchand, Arizona State (2023)
• Big Ten Record: 1:40.23 – Vini Lanza, Indiana (2019)
• Big Ten Championship Record: 1:41.05 – Vini Lanza, Indiana (2019)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:41.03
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 1:43.14

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Gal Cohen Groumi (MICH) – 1:40.48 *Championship Record* (NCAA ‘A’ Cut)
2. Eitan Ben-Shitrit (MICH) – 1:42.26
3. Kaiser Neverman (MINN) – 1:42.75
4. Colin Geer (MICH) – 1:42.82
5. Jacque Wenger (MICH) – 1:43.14
6. Luke Barr (IU) – 1:43.20
7. Christopher Morris (WISC) – 1:43.72
8. Dominik Mark Torok (WISC) – 1:44.34

Michigan claimed four of the top five spots in the men’s 200 IM final, with Gal Cohen Groumi defending his title. He finished in a time of 1:40.48, which breaks the Big Ten Championship record and marks a new best time. Cohen Groumi’s clocking tonight is his first ever sub-1:41 performance, as he eclipsed his previous lifetime best of 1:41.09 from the 2022 NCAA Championships.

Eitan Ben-Shitrit made it a 1-2 punch for the Wolverines, finishing in 1:42.26. It marks his 2nd personal record on the day, clipping 0.35 off his 1:42.61 best time from this morning. Colin Geer (1:42.82) and Jacque Wenger (1:43.14) claimed the 4th and 5th spots, contributing to the significant Wolverine points haul.

Minnesota’s Kaiser Neverman earned a podium appearance with his 3rd place finish. He put his hand on the wall in a time of 1:42.75, his first time under 1:43. Luke Barr of Indiana nearly joined him in the 1:42-range, finishing 5th in 1:43.20.

Wisconsin had two representatives in tonight’s championship final, with Christopher Morris (1:43.72) touching 7th ahead of teammate Dominik Mark Torok (1:44.34).

Northwestern’s Tyler Lu (1:43.64) bagged a win in the B-final, dropping 1.23 seconds off his prelim time of 1:44.87. Jassen Yep gave him a great race, highlighted by a very swift 28.93 breaststroke split. Lu’s Northwestern teammate, Diego Nosack, claimed the C-final win just minutes earlier. There, Nosack touched in 1:44.85 for his second sub-1:45 swim of the day.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 17.63 – Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
• Big Ten Record: 18.69 – Bowe Becker, Minnesota (2018)
• Big Ten Championship Record: 18.69 – Bowe Becker, Minnesota (2018)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 18.82
• 2023 NCAA Invited Time: 19.21

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Taiko Torepe-Ormsby (WISC) – 18.76 (NCAA ‘A’ Cut)
2. Bence Szabados (MICH) – 19.00
3. Victor Baganha (PSU) – 19.14
4. Finlay Brooks (IU) & Andrew Benson (WISC) – 19.37
5. –
6. Daniel Baltes (OSU) – 19.45
7. Tyler Ray (MICH) – 19.48
8. Ben Wiegand (WISC) – 19.56

Wisconsin’s Taiko Torepe-Ormsby was simply dominant in tonight’s 50 free final. He clocked 18.76 to win the Big Ten title, breaking 19 seconds for the first time. He also finished under the NCAA ‘A’ cut time of 18.82, securing his ticket for the NCAA Championships next month. Torepe-Ormsby touched for a best time of 19.66 (exhibition) at last year’s Big Ten Championships, so his time tonight marks a 0.90 improvement from last year.

Michigan’s Bence Szabados continued a great session for the Wolverines, replicating his 2nd place showing from last year. He nearly broke 19 seconds for the first time tonight, checking-in for a new best time of 19.00. Teammate Tyler Ray clocked 19.48 en route to a 7th place finish.

After helping Penn State to a silver medal performance on Wednesday’s 200 medley relay, Victor Baganha hit the wall in 19.14 for a bronze medal in the 50 free. He was just 0.04 shy of his best time (19.10), which was recorded at the 2023 NCAA Championships.

Indiana’s Finn Brooks and Wisconsin’s Andrew Benson posted matching 19.37s, sharing 4th place status. Brooks’ time was just 0.01 off his 19.36 best, while Benson’s performance tonight was 0.12 shy of his best. Benson’s teammate, Ben Wiegand (19.56), posted his second best time of the day to place 8th overall, continuing an incredible session for the Badgers.

MEN’S 1-METER DIVING — FINALS

• Big Ten Championship Record: 493.60 points — Michael Hixon, Indiana (2018)

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Yutong Wang (MINN) – 408.25 points
2. Carson Tyler (IU) – 405.50 points
3. Lyle Yost (OSU) – 399.20 points
4. Jordan Rzepka (PUR) – 380.30 points
5. Quentin Henninger (IU) – 375.60 points
6. Clayton Chaplin (OSU) – 370.80 points
7. Tyler Read (OSU) – 327.60 points
8. Kevin Sullivan (PSU) – 300.00 points

Minnesota’s Yutong Wang secured 1-meter diving victory for the Gophers. He scored 408.25 points, outscoring Indiana’s Carson Tyler (405.50 points) by less than 3 points.

Ohio State graduate student, Lyle Yost, scored 399.20 points to earn himself a bronze medal. Yost won the 1-meter title at the 2023 NCAA Championships. He also competed at the recent Doha World Championships, placing 9th overall in 1-meter diving.

MEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY — FINALS

• NCAA Record: 2:58.32 — Florida (2023)
• Big Ten Record: 2:59.09 — Indiana (2023)
• Big Ten Championship Record: 3:00.95 — Indiana (2022)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:04.96

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Indiana University – 3:01.61
2. University of Michigan – 3:03.13
3. Penn State University – 3:05.06
4. University of Minnesota – 3:05.34
5. Purdue University – 3:06.94
6. University of Wisconsin – 3:08.05
7. Ohio State University – 3:08.05
8. Northwestern University – 3:08.66

Indiana University defended their B1G title in the 400 medley relay, hitting the wall in a time of 3:01.61. The defending NCAA champion in the 100 back, Brendan Burns, led them off in 45.00. Josh Matheny (51.09), Tomer Frankel (43.88), and Rafael Miroslaw (41.64) comprised the rest of the winning squad.

After initially appearing as disqualified, Michigan earned runner-up status. Jack Wilkening (45.44), Brendan Fitzpatrick (52.14), Gal Cohen Groumi (44.20), and Bence Szabados (41.35) hit the wall in 3:03.13 for a clear 2nd place finish.

Penn State claimed their second relay medal of the meet, with Cooper Morley (45.49), Mariano Lazzerini (51.44), Matthew Bittner (46.33), and Victor Baganha (41.80) posting a time of 3:05.06 for 3rd. Their swim is a new school record in the event, eclipsing the previous mark of 3:06.36 from 2022.

The University of Minnesota finished 4th, as Casey Stowe (47.23), Joseph Rudd (51.83), Davide Harabagiu (44.59), and Kaiser Neverman (41.69) teamed up to record a time of 3:05.34.

Team Scores (After Day Two)

1. Indiana University — 466 points
2. University of Michigan — 437.5 points
3. Ohio State University — 428 points
4. University of Wisconsin — 388.5 points
5. University of Minnesota — 271.5 points
6. Purdue University — 254.5 points
7. Penn State University — 229 points
8. Northwestern University — 215 points