2018 MEN’S B1G CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, February 21st – Saturday, February 24th
- Prelims 11am | Finals 6:30pm
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (Central Time Zone)
- Defending Champion: Indiana (results)
- Championship Central
- Fan Guide
- Live Video
- Live Results
- NCAA Qualifying
The Indiana men’s 400 yard medley relay on Thursday, swimming at the Big Ten Championships, broke the conference record in the 400 yard medley relay to win the title. Their time of 3:01.30 is also the 5th-fastest in history.
The team of Gabriel Fantoni (45.17), Ian Finnerty (50.16), Vinicius Lanza (44.86), and Blake Pieroni (41.11) combined for the record-setting swim. The old conference record and Big Ten Championship Record were both 3:03.28 by Indiana’s 2017 Big Ten relay (which kept the last three legs the same, but only replaced the backstroke leadoff of the now-graduated Bob Glover with the freshman Gabriel Fantoni).
By swims, Indiana’s medley on Thursday is now the 5th-fastest in history, and by teams, they rank 3rd among all collegiate programs.
5 Fastest 400 yard medley relays in history:
- Texas, 2017 NCAAs – 2:59.22
- Texas, 2016 NCAAs – 3:00.68
- Texas, 2015 NCAAs – 3:01.23
- Cal, 2016 NCAAs – 3:01.28
- Indiana, 2018 Big Tens – 3:01.30
It’s also believed to be the fastest relay swum outside of an NCAA Championship meet, by far. In fact, Indiana’s old Big Ten record held the prior standard for non-national-championship speed in the event.
The time of Fantoni, the Brazilian 19-year old freshman, on the leadoff leg makes him the 3rd-fastest freshman ever in the 100 yard back, behind only Ryan Murphy (44.63) and Ralf Tribuntsov (44.95).
Surprised there isn’t more attention to Finnerty’s split. I believe only Cordes and Licon have split faster?
Want to know why the qualifying times for NCAAs aren’t posted on the results page for each event so we can see how many auto qualify for NCAAs with A cuts and B cuts? Other conferences do this. Just a thought.
This relay is going to be hotly contested at NCs, can’t wait to see what Blake does when he doesn’t have a beard.
Coley. Effin. Stickels.
His swimmers are doing pretty bad
Said nobody ever.
Yeah those IU mens relays were awful, so were his sprinters w 19 lows flat start.
His women missed american record by .01 at big 10’s in medley.
Rough start for him.
I doubt Coley is the lead coach for any of the swimmers on that medley. Maybe Fantoni? Although, IU does circuits so they probably swim with him often. None of the returning 50 freestylers had best times yesterday. Ali may not be full tapered though? Coley is obviously an amazing coach so I conclude the results are a testament to how good Dennis Dale was as a sprint coach. The two freshman 50 guys looked good.
Said it a month ago! Watch out for this relay! With a real backstroker leading off we are dangerous! Yes this is the real Bob Glover. Proud of my team today.
45.17 only a little bit faster than your 45.8-9, but this relay really does look good
Right, but when we went 3:03.2 last year I was 46.2… just for the public’s knowledge.
You were a real backstroker Bob, just better at the 200. Fantoni is quick though.
Cmoooooon faaaaam
It’s race day baby! Miss you Bob.
Unless Texas can find their front half, meaning Shebat gets back down to 44 (or Katz finds some 100 speed) and Temple finds a 51 mid, this race is probably between Cal and Indiana. Cal has like twenty different combinations that could all be fast enough to win with Quah, Carr, Hoffer, Hoppe, Seliskar, Josa, Lynch, etc.
Prediction: If Texas finds a 44.9 or better backstroke and a 51 mid or better breaststroke, Schooling runs down whoever is ahead of him with a 43.0, Ringgold holds on for the win. If they don’t, Cal and Indiana battle. I don’t think Hoppe can match Finnerty’s 50.1 and their backstrokers (most likely Carr for Cal) are similar enough that Indiana will… Read more »
Katz was 45.3 in December so I think they’ll find a 44 with or without Shebat. IMO this is a 4 or 5 team race… USC could put together a dynamite relay, and even Florida might be in the mix if they can get a real backstroke leg by next month.
Dressel is gonna lead off backstroke for Florida and give them a 4~5 second lead after decimating every record and breaking 40.00 on his back
Don’t see CD going sub 40 in the back…maybe 41
A Glinta/Vissering/Carter/Condorelli relay should challenge pretty well. Or Tribuntsov on back, whoever is swimming faster.
Would really be a heck of a race. Cal A/B relays were 3:05.4/3:06.0 at Georgia Invite in Dec… Carr didn’t swim backstroke on either of them but was 45.9 in the individual (Josa 46.5 and Thomas 46.6 lead off relays). Aggregate splits from that meet would be Carr (45.96), Sand (51.69), Lynch (45.08), Jensen (41.78) – 3:04.51… not sure what kind of improvement % they had between GA Invite and NCAAs last year but i’d think 3:00 should be in the ballpark for them again. Any chance Seliskar is a faster bet for a 100 breast in that relay?
Don’t forget that Hoffer went 41.0 flat start in HS.
I mean…it’s Texas. Anything can happen
I heard Pieroni found the rec and lifted between prelims and finals
Do not underestimate Coach Loose and his men. They will hose anyone who doubts. They are the Hosing Hoosiers! GREAT SWIM CONGRATULATIONS.