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 | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
DAY 3 (FRIDAY) PRELIMS HEAT SHEETS
TEAM SCORES (AFTER DAY TWO)
- Indiana University — 466 points
- University of Michigan — 437.5 points
- Ohio State University — 428 points
- University of Wisconsin — 388.5 points
- University of Minnesota — 271.5 points
- Purdue University — 254.5 points
- Penn State University — 229 points
- Northwestern University — 215 points
Welcome to day 3 of the 2024 Men’s Big Ten Championships. As per usual, Friday’s action will include the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, and 100 back. 3-meter diving prelims will begin following the conclusion of swimming this morning.
As we talked about in our scratch report for this morning, Michigan’s Gal Groumi, who has been swimming exceptionally so far this week, has chosen to race the 100 fly this morning over the 200 free. Groumi won the 200 IM in 1:40.48 last night, setting a new Big Ten Championship record. He enters the 100 fly this morning as the top seed with a 44.83. Groumi set his career best 100 fly of 44.50 at last year’s Big Ten Championships.
In the 200 free, it’s Indiana junior Rafael Miroslaw who comes in as the top seed this morning. Miroslaw has been as fast as 1:32.52 this season, which puts him first in the event this morning by a little over a second.
One of the more interesting races of the day, the 100 breast, will see Indiana’s breaststroke group out in full force. It’s junior Finn Brooks, who up until this season was not a breaststroker, who comes in with the top seed of 51.34. While Brooks is the top seed, his IU teammates Jassen Yep (51.49) and Josh Matheny (51.81) are close behind with the 2nd and 3rd seeds.
Brendan Burns is another Hoosier who comes into today with the top seed. Burns is entered 1st in the 100 back, where he also holds the meet record with a 44.31 and the Big Ten Conference record with a 43.61. This season, Burns has been as fast as 45.13, though he did better that time last night, leading off IU’s 400 medley relay in 45.00.
100 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 42.80 – Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
- Big Ten Record: 44.04 – Tomer Frankel, Indiana (2023)
- Big Ten Championship Record: 44.50 – Gal Groumi, Michigan (2023)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.64
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Tomer Frankel (Indiana) – 44.70
- Tyler Ray (Michigan) – 44.77
- Gal Groumi (Michigan) – 44.80
- Finn Brooks (Indiana) – 44.84
- Davide Harabagiu (Minnesota) – 45.35
- Victor Baganha (Penn State) – 45.75
- Colin Geer (Michigan) – 46.02
- Charlie Gustafson (Ohio State) – 46.05
Kicking off this morning’s action, Indiana’s Tomer Frankel ripped a new season best of 44.70 to post the top time of the morning. Frankel is the Big Ten Conference record holder in the event, having clocked his career best of 44.04 at last year’s NCAA Championships. He may make a run at the championship record of 44.50 tonight, as Frankel split a very speedy 43.88 on the fly leg of Indiana’s medley relay last night.
Speaking of the championship record, that record holder, Michigan’s Gal Groumi, was 3rd this morning with a 44.80. Groumi clipped his season best by 0.03 seconds with the swim, and set himself up just off his own CR of 44.50 from last year’s meet. We saw Groumi drop big from prelims to finals en route to winning the 200 IM last night, so we’ll surely need to keep an eye on him tonight.
It was Michigan sophomore Tyler Ray that came in ahead of Groumi this morning, speeding to a massive new personal best of 44.77. Ray entered the meet with a lifetime best of 45.84, a time which he swam at the Georgia Invite back in the fall. He took more than a second off that time this morning, getting very close to the NCAA ‘A’ cut of 44.64. Ray and Groumi split the fly duties for the Wolverine medley relays this week, as Ray did the 200 medley (19.95) and Groumi the 400 medley (44.20).
Michigan also saw freshman Colin Geer make it through to the ‘A” final taking 7th this morning in 46.02. That swim is a new career best for Geer by a little over a half-second, taking down his previous best of 46.69, which he set at his high school state meet last May.
Indian also saw Finn Brooks advance to the ‘A’ final in his first of two races this morning. Brooks, who is also the top seed in the 100 breast later in the session, clocked a season best 44.84 to come in 4th this morning.
400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 3:28.82 – Leon Marchand, Arizona State (2023)
- Big Ten Record: 3:35.98 – Tyler Clary, Michigan (2009)
- Big Ten Championship Record: 3:38.03 – Tyler Clary, Michigan (2009)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:38.90
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Toby Barnett (Indiana) – 3:41.37
- Diego Nosack (Northwestern) – 3:43.46
- Tristan Jankovics (Ohio State) – 3:43.65
- Eitan Ben Shitrit (Michigan) – 3:43.95
- Dominik Mark Torok (Wisconsin) – 3:44.47
- Will Christenson (Minnesota) – 3:44.75
- Andrew Reiter (Indiana) – 3:44.83
- Sam Campbell (Ohio State) – 3:45.72
It’s the turn of a new page for the Big Ten in the 400 IM, as we saw a pair of freshmen clock the top times of the morning. Indiana freshman Toby Barnett popped a new career best of 3:41.37, leading the field by more than 2 seconds. Barnett had clocked his previous best of 3:42.54 at the Ohio State Invite back in the fall. This morning, Barnett was incredible in the middle of the race, splitting 54.87 on back and 1:01.65 on breast for a very speedy 1:56.52 on the middle 200.
Northwestern freshman Diego Nosack also put up a new career best, taking 2nd this morning in 3:43.46. The freshman came into today with a top time of 3:44.52, which he swam at the Purdue Invite back in the fall.
Ohio State’s Tristan Jankovics, who was the top seed coming into the morning, clocked a 3:43.65 for 3rd this morning. Jankovics has already been 3:40.89 this season, which also stands as his career best in the event.
Michigan’s Eitan Ben Shitrit, who came in 2nd in the 200 IM last night, was 4th this morning with a new season best of 3:43.95. He was just off his career best of 3:43.49, which he swam at last year’s Big Ten Championships.
200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 1:29.15 – Dean Farris, Harvard (2019)
- Big Ten Record: 1:29.63 – Blake Pieroni, Indiana (2018)
- Big Ten Championship Record: 1:31.14 – Blake Pieroni, Indiana (2018)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:31.74
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Rafael Miroslaw (Indiana) – 1:32.56
- Tomas Navikonis (Ohio State) – 1:32.58
- Tomer Frankel (Indiana) – 1:33.23
- Bar Soloveychik (Minnesota) – 1:33.41
- Chris Morris (Wisconsin) – 1:34.01
- Luukas Vainio (Wisconsin) – 1:34.23
- Nico Butera (Wisconsin) – 1:34.61
- Alex Axon (Ohio State) – 1:34.64
Indiana saw junior Rafael Miroslaw take the top seed for tonight’s final of the 200 free, swimming a 1:32.56. Miroslaw basically matched his season best of 1:32.52 with his swim this morning. He’s also not far from his career mark of 1:31.89, which he swam at the 2022 Big Tens.
In an impressive double, Indiana’s Tomer Frankel clocked the 3rd fastest time of the morning with a huge season best of 1:33.23, not that long after leading prelims of the 100 fly. Frankel had only been 1:36.09 officially in the 200 free so far this season, though he did split 1:32.32 on the 2nd leg of Indiana’s 800 free relay on Wednesday night. Given the slower pace of finals, his time between events will likely be about the same tonight as it was this morning, so we’ll see how Frankel manages this double.
Ohio State sophomore Tomas Navikonis had a really nice swim this morning, clocking a 1:32.58 for 2nd. The time was better than his seed, however, Navikonis did post his career best of 1:32.17 leading off Ohio State’s 800 free relay on Wednesday night. His swim this morning sets him up nicely to make a run at that time.
The Buckeyes also saw sophomore Alex Axon sneak into the ‘A’ final, taking 8th with a 1:34.64. That performance marks a new career best for Axon by a little over a second.
Wisconsin had a great showing in this event this morning, seeing 3 guys make it into the ‘A’ final, which is the most of any team. Junior Chris Morris (1:34.01), freshman Luukas Vainio (1:34.23), and junior Nico Butera (1:34.61) were 5th, 6th, and 7th respectively. All 3 performances mark career bests.
100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 49.69 – Ian Finnerty, Indiana (2018)
- Big Ten Record: 49.69 – Ian Finnerty, Indiana (2018)
- Big Ten Championship Record: 50.19 – Max McHugh, Minnesota (2021)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 51.10
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Finn Brooks (Indiana) – 51.41
- Mariano Lazzerini (Penn State) – 51.52
- Jassen Yep (Indiana) – 52.01
- Max Reich (Indiana) – 52.28
- Brendan Fitzpatrick (Michigan) – 52.71
- Truman teDuits (Wisconsin) – 52.82
- Josh Matheny (Indiana) – 52.87
- Joe Rudd (Minnesota) – 52.90
In another double from an Indiana swimmer, junior Finn Brooks clocked the top time in the 100 breast this morning with a 51.41. That swim came after Brooks took 4th in prelims of the 100 fly with a new season best. His 100 breast this morning came in just off his season and career best of 51.34. The Finn Brooks breaststroke arc that popped up out of nowhere this season is an interesting one. Prior to this year, Brooks had only swum the 100 breast 3 times as a Hoosier, and he’d never been under 56 seconds. Now, he’s one of the top 100 breaststrokers in the NCAA, and may be looking at a Big Ten title tonight.
The Hoosiers were, as always, great in the 100 breast. Jassen Yep was 3rd this morning with a 52.01, while Max Reich came in 4th with a 52.28, and Josh Matheny was 4th in 52.87. None of the Indiana swimmers went season bests this morning, so definitely be on the lookout for that tonight.
Penn State saw a great swim out of sophomore Mariano Lazzerini, who came in 2nd with a 51.52. That swim marks a huge career best for Lazzerini, whose previous top time was a 52.49, which he swam at last year’s Big Tens. Of note, he had the fastest closing 50 in the event this morning, coming home in 27.17.
Wisconsin’s Truman teDuits took exactly 2 seconds off his season best this morning, finishing 6th in 52.82. That swim also marks a career best for teDuits and his first time under 53 seconds officially.
100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS
- NCAA Record: 43.49 – Ryan Murphy, California (2016)
- Big Ten Record: 43.61 – Brendan Burns, Indiana (2023)
- Big Ten Championship Record: 44.31 – Brendan Burns, Indiana (2022)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.71
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Cooper Morley (Penn State) – 44.74
- Brendan Burns (Indiana) – 45.34
- Jack Wilkening (Michigan) – 45.35
- Kai Van Westering (Indiana) – 45.43
- Brady Samuels (Purdue) – 45.67
- Luke Barr (Indiana) – 46.00
- Gavin Wight (Indiana) – 46.04
- Jacque Wenger (Michigan) – 46.37
Indiana has really rounded into form in this session. After earning 4 ‘A’ finalists in the 100 breast, the Hoosiers turned around and got another 4 ‘A’ finalists in the 100 back. They were led by Brendan Burns, who came in 2nd with a 45.34. Burns is the conference record holder in the event with a 43.61, and holds the championship record as well with a 44.31 from 2022.
Indiana junior Kai Van Westering came in 4th this morning with a 45.43, marking a huge career best. Van Westering entered the meet with a career best of 46.72, which he swam at the Ohio State Invite back in the fall.
IU junior Luke Barr came in 6th with a 46.00, while senior Gavin Wight clocked a 46.04 for 7th.
Penn State sophomore Cooper Morley had a phenomenal swim this morning, clocking a 44.74 to earn the top seed for tonight’s final. That was a huge career best for Morley, taking down his previous mark of 45.49 from last year’s Big Tens. Morley certainly will earn himself an invite to the NCAA Championships with his time for this morning, though it’s worth noting that he was only 0.03 seconds off the NCAA ‘A’ cut, which gives him something to aim for in addition to the Big Ten title that’s on the line tonight.
Michigan sophomore Jack Wilkening put up a career best this morning as well, taking 3rd in 45.35. Wilkening entered the meet with a season and career best of 45.86, then clocked a 45.44 leading off Michigan’s 400 medley relay last night. He chipped a little more off that time with his swim this morning.
The Wolverines also saw junior Jacque Wenger put up a gigantic career best to qualify for the ‘A’ final. Wenger came into the meet with a personal best of 48.37 in the 100 back, then blew that away with a 46.37, which was good for 8th this morning.
Hi: you’re showing the NCAA record for the 100 back as Ryan Murphy’s :43.49. I think that Luca Urlando broke that record in 2022 with his leadoff medley swim of :43.35. Is that an error or did that swim for some reason not count?
Here’s the SS link: https://swimswam.com/the-ncaa-record-no-one-saw-coming-urlandos-43-35-100-back-relay-leadoff/
Getting the popcorn ready for tonight…
Hats off to Penn State. No head coach this year, diving coach got canned a few weeks ago, and their front-line swimmers are doing quite well. Dan Flack doing a nice job filling in.
what happened to head coach. mens and womens team swimming so well.
No head coach? I must have missed something.
Perhaps no head coach is a case of addition by subtraction
This is about to be a monster night for IU
Rough eyeball:
IND: 14 / 0 / 3
MICH: 7 / 5* / 4
WI: 5 / 6 / 5
OSU: 5 / 5 / 4
Plus Diving?
With diving:
IU: 17/0/5
OSU: 8/8/4
Mich: 7/5/7
Wisc: 5/7/6
Diving is saving OSU’s results, they wouldn’t even exist in the top 3 without it.
Sprint free is saving Wisconsin’s results – they wouldn’t even be challenging for top 3 without it….
Yeah you need a good sprint group to finish top 3 in a deep conference like this. That’s correct. It’s really hard to finish top 3 in the Big Ten without a good sprint free group.
But also,
Wisconsin points in the 50 free – 79.5
Wisconsin points in the 500 free – 83
🤷
Haha, thanks for doing better research Braden! Was trying to just make the arbitrary point that “X team is being saved by X event” and clearly picked a poor example! But it’s all about how you use those scholarships and develop athletes right?
😅 yeah. I mean AD is saving the LA Lakers, without him they’re not even in playoff contention!
If you take away the best part of any team, that team is worse. I get that people around here (who are fans of teams without good diving programs) hate diving, but IDK I think it adds a different, more varied element to the team battles.
Swim off for 16th in 100 FY. C Morrici takes it easy in the 100 BK Prelims.
New Michigan coach, Matt Bowe, has done a really good job with whom he inherited! Both men and women!
Josh Matheny sandbagged so hard
Almost didn’t make it into the finals
I think with his high tempo stroke, it is hard for him to not go all out (to have something for finals) and still maintain good form. He might also not be tapering, making it difficult to keep his tempo.