2024 Women’s Big Ten Championships: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2024 WOMEN’S BIG TEN SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Feb. 21-24, 2024
• Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center
  • West Lafayette, Indiana
• Defending champions:
  • Women: Ohio State (4x)
• SCY (25 yards)
• Live stream (B1G+)
• Live results
• Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Live Recap | Day 3 Finals Live Recap
• Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

Day 4 Finals Heat Sheet | Day 4 Ups/Mids/Downs

Ohio State is in pole position to claim its fifth consecutive Big Ten crown on Saturday, but Indiana and Michigan are in close pursuit.

The Hoosiers and Wolverines remain within striking distance heading into the final session this evening thanks in large part to the Buckeyes’ 200 freestyle relay disqualification on Friday night.

Today’s schedule features finals of the 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 free, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 10-meter platform diving, and 400 free relay.

Team Scores After Day 3

1. Ohio State – 907
2. Indiana – 884
3. Michigan – 835
4. Wisconsin – 624.5
5. Minnesota – 574.5
6. Purdue – 363
7. Penn State – 305
8. Northwestern – 298.5
9. Nebraska – 296
10. Rutgers – 237.5
11. Iowa – 217
12. Illinois – 152

1650 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINAL

• NCAA record: 15:03.31, Katie Ledecky – 2017
• Meet record: 15:43.17, Molly Kowal – 2020
• Pool record: 15:44.93, G Ryan – 2017
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 15:52.41
• Time to qualify for 2023 NCAAs: 16:13.73

Top 8:

1. Ching Hwee Gan (Indiana) – 15:54.83
2. Maddie Waggoner (Wisconsin) – 15:57.36
3. Mariah Denigan (Indiana) – 15:59.66
4. Paige McKenna (Wisconsin) – 15:59.84
5. Gena Jorgenson (Nebraska) – 16:01.72
6. Maya Geringer (Ohio State) – 16:03.63
7. Alivia Lindorfer (Wisconsin) – 16:04.88
8. Elle Braun (Wisconsin) – 16:08.59

Indiana junior Ching Hwee Gan was more than six seconds off her NCAA-leading 15:48.70 from November, but her performance was still good enough to secure a comfortable 1650 free title win in 15:54.83.

Gan held off Wisconsin freshman Maddie Waggoner (15:57.36), who shaved more than four seconds off her previous-best 16:01.98 en route to the runner-up finish. She now ranks 8th in the NCAA this season. Waggoner was joined by three other Badgers in the top eight: junior Paige McKenna (15:59.84), senior Alivia Lindorfer (16:04.88), and senior Elle Braun (16:08.59). McKenna has been as fast as 15:54.95 this season at November’s Texas Invitational.

Indiana junior Mariah Denigan clocked the quickest time in the slower heats with a 15:59.66, and it ended up ranking 3rd overall behind Gan and Waggoner.

The most impressive time drop of this race came courtesy of Nebraska sophomore Gena Jorgenson, who knocked nearly 12 seconds off her lifetime best to place 5th in 16:01.72. Her previous best stood at 16:13.34 from NCAAs last year, where she placed 28th. Jorgenson’s time tonight would have placed 14th in scoring range.

Ohio State senior Maya Geringer placed 6th in 16:03.63, more than seven seconds slower than her personal-best 15:56.28 from November’s Ohio State Invitational.

200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• NCAA record: 1:47.24, Beata Nelson – 2019
• Big Ten record: 1:47.24, Beata Nelson – 2019
• Meet record: 1:48.47, Beata Nelson – 2019
• Pool record: 1:49.92, Kate Fesenko – 2010
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:50.50
• Time to qualify for 2023 NCAAs: 1:53.94

Top 8:

1. Phoebe Bacon (Wisconsin) – 1:50.05
2. Ayla Spitz (Northwestern) – 1:52.37
3. Krista Marlin (Ohio State) – 1:54.31
4. Mya Dewitt (Indiana) – 1:54.62
5. Anna Freed (Indiana) – 1:54.80
6. Morgan Kraus (Ohio State) – 1:55.65
7. Casey Chung (Michigan) – 1:55.88
8. Kacey McKenna (Indiana) – 1:57.19

Wisconsin senior Phoebe Bacon captured her third Big Ten title in the 200 back with a winning time of 1:50.05, reclaiming her crown after a one-year hiatus.

This race was somewhat of a blowout as Bacon beat Northwestern fifth-year Ayla Spitz (1:52.37) by more than two seconds and 3rd-place finisher Krista Marlin of Ohio State (1:54.31) by more than four seconds. Spitz set her second lifetime best of the day, lowering her previous-best 1:52.77 from prelims by four-tenths of a second. Before today, the Cal transfer’s best time stood at 1:53.21 from the 2021 Pac-12 Championships.

Ohio State sophomore Krista Marlin added a few tenths from prelims (1:53.94) but still managed to place 3rd in 1:54.31. Her teammate, fifth-year Morgan Kraus, boosted the Buckeyes’ point total with a 6th-place showing in 1:55.65.

In between them were a pair of Indiana swimmers, sophomore Mya DeWitt (1:54.62) and senior Anna Freed (1:54.80), who helped keep the Hoosiers in the hunt. Indiana junior Kacey McKenna, the 100 back champion Thursday, fell to 8th place tonight after qualifying 3rd in prelims this morning (1:57.19) nearly four seconds faster (1:53.57).

100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• NCAA record: 45.56, Simone Manuel – 2017
• Big Ten record: 46.02, Maggie MacNeil – 2021
• Meet record: 46.57, Maggie MacNeil – 2020
• Pool record: 46.96, Mallory Comerford – 2018
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 47.18
• Time to qualify for 2023 NCAAs: 48.37

Top 8:

1. Amy Fulmer (Ohio State) – 47.48
2. Anna Peplowski (Indiana) – 47.53
3. Kristina Paegle (Indiana) – 47.65
4. Stephanie Balduccini (Michigan) – 47.77
5. Kit Kat Zenick (Ohio State) – 47.92
6. Lindsay Flynn (Michigan) – 47.98
7. Teresa Ivan (Ohio State) – 48.35
8. Ashley Turak (Indiana) – 49.09

Indiana junior Anna Peplowski‘s time from prelims (47.45) would have won the 100 free title tonight, but she wasn’t quite able to replicate that same speed this evening.

Instead, Ohio State fifth-year Amy Fulmer fired off a season-best 47.48 to defend her Big Ten crown just .05 seconds ahead of Peplowski (47.53).

It was an exciting race as four other swimmers — Indiana sophomore Kristina Paegle (47.65), Michigan freshman Stephanie Balduccini (47.77), Ohio State senior Kit Kat Zenick (47.92), and Michigan junior Lindsay Flynn (47.98) — were within half a second of Fulmer’s winning time.

Paegle posted another personal best, taking a few tenths off her previous-best 47.96 from November. She now ranks 11th in the NCAA this season.

200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• NCAA record: 2:01.29, Kate Douglass – 2023
• Big Ten record: 2:02.60, Lilly King – 2018
• Meet record: 2:04.03, Lilly King – 2017
• Pool record: 2:04.03, Lilly King – 2017
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 2:05.73
• Time to qualify for 2023 NCAAs: 2:09.68

Top 8:

1. Brearna Crawford (Indiana) – 2:07.25
2. Josie Panitz (Ohio State) – 2:08.59
3. Hazal Ozkan (Wisconsin) – 2:09.16
4. Reese Dehen (Ohio State) – 2:10.80
5. Maia Hall (Nebraska) – 2:10.90
6. Devon Kitchel (Michigan) – 2:11.25
7. Claire Donan (Michigan) – 2:12.38
8. Hannah Bach (Ohio State) – 2:13.97

Indiana junior Brearna Crawford reclaimed her 200 breast title with a winning time of 2:07.25, more than a second faster than this morning’s top qualifier, Ohio State fifth-year Josie Panitz (2:08.59). Crawford blazed a personal-best 2:06.86 to triumph in 2022 before placing 6th last year (2:09.65).

Wisconsin sophomore Hazal Ozkan shaved a couple tenths off her lifetime best en route to a 3rd-place finish in 2:09.16. Her previous best stood at 2:09.37 from November.

Ohio State junior Reese Dehen dropped more than a second off her best time on her way to a 4th-place finish in 2:10.80. Her best time was a 2:12.18 from last month before she punched in at 2:12.03 in prelims this morning.

Nebraska junior Maia Hall placed 5th in 2:10.90, slightly off her personal-best 2:10.09 from prelims this morning.

200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• NCAA record: 1:49.16, Alex Walsh – 2024
• Big Ten record: 1:51.19, Olivia Carter – 2022
• Meet record: 1:51.83, Olivia Carter – 2022
• Pool record: 1:52.39, Elaine Breeden – 2010
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 1:52.86
• Time to qualify for 2023 NCAAs: 1:55.92

Top 8:

1. Katie Crom (Michigan) – 1:54.61
2. Megan Van Berkom (Minnesota) – 1:55.63
3. Hannah Bellard (Michigan) – 1:55.72
4. Kyra Sommerstad (Ohio State) – 1:56.39
5. Anna Freed (Indiana) – 1:57.76
6. Katie Forrester (Indiana) – 1:57.97
7. Jessica Eden (Ohio State) – 1:58.48
8. Anna Boemer (Michigan) – 1:59.65

Michigan sophomore Katie Crom clinched her second individual title of the week with a 200 fly victory in 1:54.61. It marked a new season best by more than two seconds, but still slightly off her personal-best 1:53.94 from last February. Crom also triumphed in the 500 free (4:37.24) on Thursday night.

Minnesota senior Megan Van Berkom, the top qualifier in prelims this morning, reached the wall about a second behind Crom in 1:55.63.

Michigan freshman Hannah Bellard made it two Wolverines in the top three with a 3rd-place finish in 1:55.72. She still owns the top time in the conference this season at 1:53.21 from November’s Georgia Invitational.

Ohio State senior Kyra Sommerstad dropped almost a second en route to a 4th-place finish in 1:56.39. Her previous best stood at 1:57.30 from 2022.

10M PLATFORM DIVING – FINAL

• Meet record: 424.45, Jessica Parratto
• Pool record: 378.6, Jessica Parratto
• NCAA ‘A’ qualifying score: 225

Top 8:

1. Skyler Liu (Indiana) – 342.4
2. Vivi Del Angel (Minnesota) – 342
3. Daryn Wright (Purdue) – 318.1
4. Maycey Vieta (Purdue) – 299.8
5. Ciara McGing (Ohio State) – 299
6. Anne Fowler (Indiana) – 347.05
7. Jaye Patrick (Purdue) – 298.2
8. Janie Boyle (Ohio State) – 279.6

Indiana junior Skyler Liu won her second individual title of the week on the 10-meter platform with a score of 342.4, adding to her 3-meter title (379.95) on Friday night.

Minnesota sophomore Vivi Del Angel was right behind Liu with a runner-up finish in 342, within half a point of the victory. She placed 3rd last year as a freshman with 307.25 points before going on to place 3rd at NCAAs (344.55).

Purdue scored big points in this event between 3rd-place finisher Daryn Wright (318.1), 4th-place finisher Maycey Vieta (299.8), and 6th-place finisher Jaye Patrick (298.2).

Ohio State senior Ciara McGing rebounded with a 5th-place effort after a nagging ankle injury kept her out of the 3-meter competition on Friday.

Heading into the final race of the meet, Ohio State holds a mere 1.5-point lead over Indiana.

400 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

• NCAA record: 3:05.84, Virginia – 2023
• Meet record: 3:09.84, Michigan – 2022
• Pool record: 3:11.60, Michigan – 2018
• NCAA ‘A’ cut: 3:14.10
• Time to qualify for 2023 NCAAs: 3:15.97

Top 8:

1. Michigan – 3:11.21 *Pool record
2. Indiana – 3:11.37
3. Ohio State – 3:12.70
4. Wisconsin – 3:14.51
5. Penn State – 3:16.83
6. Minnesota – 3:17.69
7. Northwestern – 3:17.91
8. Iowa – 3:19.26

Every. Point. Matters.

The meet came to a thrilling conclusion in the 400 free relay, where Indiana (3:11.37) couldn’t overcome Michigan (3:11.21) — but the Hoosiers did beat Ohio State to clinch the Big Ten title by just .5 points, snapping the Buckeyes’ four-year winning streak at this meet.

Indiana trailed Ohio State until the final anchor leg, when sophomore Kristina Paegle busted out a 46.65 split — the fastest in the field — to rally the Hoosiers past the Buckeyes for the overall team victory.

The Wolverines’ quartet of freshman Stephanie Balduccini (48.09), senior Claire Newman (48.13), sophomore Brady Kendall (47.90), and junior Lindsay Flynn (47.09) used their depth to earn the 1st-place finish in 3:11.21 — still almost a second slower than their season-best 3:10.30.

Paegle almost carried Indiana past Michigan, but Flynn held her off with the second-fastest split in the field at 47.09. Hoosiers junior Anna Peplowski (47.72), fifth-year Ashley Turak (47.71), and senior Ella Ristic (49.29) joined Paegle on their runner-up relay.

Ohio State shaved almost half a second off its season best time in the event rolling out a lineup of senior Kit Kat Zenick (48.03), junior Teresa Ivan (live results split appears to be incorrect), fifth-year Amy Fulmer (live results split also appears to be incorrect), and senior Tristan Harrison (49.60).

Wisconsin placed 4th in 3:14.51 thanks to junior Abby Carlson (48.88), senior Phoebe Bacon (48.39), sophomore Abby Wanezek (48.47), and freshman Hailey Tierney (48.77). The Badgers have been as fast as 3:13.79 this season.

Final Team Scores

1. Indiana – 1,359
2. Ohio State – 1,358.5
3. Michigan – 1,207
4. Wisconsin – 978
5. Minnesota – 816
6. Purdue – 572.5
7. Northwestern – 463.5
8. Nebraska – 409
9. Penn State – 382
10. Rutgers – 363.5
11. Iowa – 303
12. Illinois – 204