2024 Women’s Big Ten Championships: Day 4 Prelims 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 Heat Sheets

Four-time defending champion Ohio State enters the final day of competition with 907 points, 23 points ahead of Indiana (884) and 72 points clear of 3rd-place Michigan (835).

The Hoosiers and Wolverines are within striking distance heading into Saturday’s action thanks in large part to the Buckeyes’ 200 freestyle relay disqualification on Friday night.

Today’s schedule features the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, and platform diving. Tonight’s session will also include the 400 free relay final.

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

Women’s 200 Backstroke – Prelims

• 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) – 1:51.53
2. Ayla Spitz (Northwestern) – 1:52.77
3. Kacey McKenna (Indiana) – 1:53.57
4. Krista Marlin (Ohio State) – 1:53.94
5. Anna Freed (Indiana) – 1:54.17
6. Casey Chung (Michigan) – 1:55.15
7. Morgan Kraus (Ohio State) – 1:55.17
8. Mya Dewitt (Indiana) – 1:55.31

A two-time Big Ten Champion in the 200 back who didn’t contest the event last year, top-seeded Wisconsin senior Phoebe Bacon put herself in position to reclaim her crown with a prelims-leading 1:51.53 this morning. Her best time is a 1:48.32 from her 2021 NCAA title victory.

Northwestern fifth-year Ayla Spitz was more than a second behind Bacon as the No. 2 seed with a personal-best 1:52.77. The Cal transfer dropped almost half a second off her previous-best 1:53.21 from the 2021 Pac-12 Championships.

Indiana junior Kacey McKenna (1:53.57), Ohio State sophomore Krista Marlin (1:53.94), and Indiana senior Anna Freed (1:54.17) were separated by just six-tenths of a second as they vie for a spot on the podium tonight.

Michigan senior Casey Chung qualified 6th in this morning’s heats with a time of 1:55.15, not far off her personal-best 1:54.62 from 2022. Ohio State fifth-year Morgan Kraus was right behind Chung in 1:55.17 as she aims to build on her 4th-place effort from last year (1:54.53).

Indiana sophomore Mya Dewitt snagged the last spot in the A-final with a time of 1:55.31, just about a tenth ahead of Ohio State senior Tristan Harrison (1:55.43).

The defending champion in this event, Indiana junior Anna Peplowski, opted to swim the 100 free today instead.

Women’s 100 Freestyle – Prelims

• 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. Anna Peplowski (Indiana) – 47.45
2. Kit Kat Zenick (Ohio State) – 47.79
3. Amy Fulmer (Ohio State) – 47.79
4. Kristina Paegle (Indiana) – 47.79
5. Stephanie Balduccini (Michigan) – 48.10
6. Lindsay Flynn (Michigan) – 48.40
7. Teresa Ivan (Ohio State) – 48.44
8. Ashley Turak (Indiana) – 48.54

Indiana junior Anna Peplowski blasted a personal-best 47.45 to pace the 100 free prelims by a few tenths, validating her decision to enter this event instead of defend her 200 back title today. Peplowski, who won the 200 free and placed 2nd in the 500 free earlier this week, owned a lifetime best of 47.82 from earlier this month heading into the meet.

Behind Peplowski, there was rare three-way tie for the No. 2 seed between Ohio State senior Kit Kat Zenick (47.79), Ohio State fifth-year Amy Fulmer (47.79), and Indiana sophomore Kristina Paegle (47.79). The three swimmers were also separated by less than a tenth of a second in the 50 free on Thursday.

The Michigan duo of freshman Stephanie Balduccini (48.10) and junior Lindsay Flynn (48.40) touched the wall after the trio of 47.79s. The Wolverines also placed a pair in the B-final thanks to No. 9 seed Brady Kendall (48.69) and No. 12 seed Claire Newman (49.03). If this morning’s individual 100 free results are any indication, tonight’s 400 free relay should be a thrilling battle between Hoosiers, Buckeyes, and Wolverines.

Ohio State junior Teresa Ivan (48.44) and Indiana fifth-year Ashley Turak (48.54) rounded out the top eight finishers advancing to the A-final this evening. Ivan won the 50 free on Thursday night in 21.74.

Women’s 200 Breaststroke – Prelims

• 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. Josie Panitz (Ohio State) – 2:08.66
2. Brearna Crawford (Indiana) – 2:09.06
3. Hazal Ozkan (Wisconsin) – 2:10.01
4. Maia Hall (Nebraska) – 2:10.09
5. Hannah Bach (Ohio State) – 2:11.14
6. Reese Dehen (Ohio State) – 2:12.03
7. Devon Kitchel (Michigan) – 2:12.82
8. Claire Donan (Michigan) – 2:12.85

After placing 2nd in Friday’s 100 breast final, Ohio State fifth-year Josie Panitz came out firing in the 100 breast with the top time in prelims at 2:08.66.

Indiana junior Brearna Crawford was within half a second of Panitz this morning at 2:09.06, the only other swimmer to break 2:10 in the heats. She owns the second-fastest time in the conference this season at 2:07.62.

Wisconsin sophomore Hazal Ozkan (2:10.01) and Nebraska junior Maia Hall (2:10.09) were separated by less than a tenth of a second as the No. 3 and 4 seeds, respectively. Hall, a British native, notched a new lifetime best in the process, lowering her previous-best 2:10.76 from 2022.

Ohio State fifth-year Hannah Bach snagged the fifth qualifying spot in a season-best 2:11.14 on the heels of her 100 breast victory on Thursday. She was less than a second ahead of Buckeyes junior Reese Dehen, who clocked a season-best 2:12.03 en route to the No. 6 seed.

The Michigan pair of sophomore Devon Kitchel (2:12.82) and senior Claire Donan (2:12.85) finished within a few hundredths of each other to round out tonight’s A-final. Donan’s time wasn’t a personal best (2:11.73 from 2019), but it was almost five seconds faster than her season-best 2:17.83 from last month.

Women’s 200 Butterfly – Prelims

• 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. Megan Van Berkom (Minnesota) – 1:56.97
2. Katie Crom (Michigan) – 1:57.04
3. Hannah Bellard (Michigan) – 1:57.19
4. Katie Forrester (Indiana) – 1:57.66
5. Kyra Sommerstad (Ohio State) – 1:57.85
6. Anna Freed (Indiana) – 1:57.87
7. Jessica Eden (Ohio State) – 1:58.04
8. Anna Boemer (Michigan) – 1:58.78

After placing 2nd in 2022 (1:53.89) and 3rd last year (1:55.14), Minnesota senior Megan Van Berkom is looking to top the podium int he 200 fly once and for all. She led prelims with a time of 1:56.97, less than a tenth ahead of Michigan sophomore Katie Crom (1:57.04).

Van Berkom has been as fast as 1:54.78 this season while Crom owns a season-best 1:56.46. Crom won the 500 free (4:37.24) on Wednesday night.

Michigan freshman Hannah Bellard wasn’t far behind Van Berkom and Crom with her 3rd-place showing in 1:57.19. She owns the top time in the Big Ten this season at 1:53.21, so she could have a lot more left in the tank tonight. This event is the Wolverines’ best hope of closing the gap on Ohio State and Indiana as they also boast a third A-finalist in freshman Anna Boemer (1:58.78). The future appears bright for new Michigan coach Matt Bowe as all three of his A-finalists in the 200 fly are underclassmen.

Indiana (sophomore Katie Forrester and senior Anna Freed) and Ohio State (senior Kyra Sommerstad and sophomore Jessica Eden) placed two swimmers apiece in the A-final, all of whom were slightly off their season-best times in prelims.

Women’s 10M Platform Diving – Prelims

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

Top 8:

1. Skyler Liu (Indiana) – 339.45
2. Vivi Del Angel (Minnesota) – 321.8
3. Ciara McGing (Ohio State) – 301.3
4. Janie Boyle (Ohio State) – 293.7
5. Daryn Wright (Purdue) – 292.5
6. Maycey Vieta (Purdue) – 290.1
7. Markie Hopkins (Northwestern) – 270.7
8. Jaye Patrick (Purdue) – 253.5

Indiana junior Skyler Liu led all divers in the 10-meter platform prelims with a score of 339.45. Liu, who won the 3-meter diving title on Thursday, placed 4th in this event last year (305.6).

Minnesota sophomore Vivi Del Angel was close behind with 321.8 points. She placed 3rd in this event last year (305.6).

Ohio State senior Ciara McGing bounced back with a 3rd-place showing (301.3) after a nagging ankle injury kept her out of the 3-meter competition on Thursday. She was the only other swimmer to surpass the 300-point barrier in prelims, but Buckeyes fifth-year Janie Boyle was close behind with a score of 293.7.

Purdue placed four divers in the top nine this morning courtesy of sophomore Daryn Wright (292.5), senior Maycey Vieta (290.1), fifth-year Jaye Patrick (253.5), and junior Sophia McAfee. Vieta won last year’s title with a score of 318.3.