2023 Women’s Big Ten Championships: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2023 WOMENS BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, February 15 – Saturday, February 18, 2023
• Canham Natatorium, Ann Arbor, MI
• Defending Champions:
  • Women: Ohio State (3x)
• Live Results
• Live Video
• Championship Central
• Fan Guide

THURSDAY PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

The first full day of the 2023 Women’s Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships are here. This morning we’ll see prelims of the 500 free, 200 IM, and 50 free, as well as 1-meter diving, which will start at around noon.

Notably, Wisconsin’s Paige McKenna is the only defending champion from last year racing in the pool today. Last year, McKenna won the 500 free with a 4:38.09. This morning, she’s the sixth seed.

The 200 IM has Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon as the top seed by a sizable margin. Bacon has been 1:55.13 this season, well over a second faster than second-seeded Josie Panitz (1:56.50) out of Ohio State.

The 50 free presents a unique opportunity this year, since Maggie MacNeil, who had dominated the event within the conference for the last several years, is now a grad transfer at LSU. That leaves the field much more open, and Ohio State’s Katherine Zenick (21.94) and Amy Fulmer (21.95) are the only swimmers who have been under 22 seconds this season.

500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record – 4:34.40, G Ryan (2017)
• Pool Record – 4:35.19, Haley Lips (2016)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 4:35.76
• 2022 NCAA Invited Time – 4:43.08
• 2022 Champion – 4:38.09, Paige McKenna (Wisconsin)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Abby Carlson (Wisconsin) – 4:39.28
2. Mariah Denigan (Indiana) – 4:40.72
3. Katie Crom (Michigan) – 4:41.27
4. Blair Stoneburg (Wisconsin) – 4:41.52
5. Shannon Stott (Nebraska) – 4:41.65
6. Paige McKenna (Wisconsin) – 4:41.67
7. Ching Gan (Indiana) – 4:42.82
8. Elyse Heiser (Indiana) – 4:42.82

In the final heat this morning, Wisconsin’s Abby Carlson clocked the only sub-4:40 in the field this morning, winning in 4:39.28. Indiana’s Mariah Denigan was close behind in the same heat, posting the second-fastest time of the morning.

As expected, this was a chance to shine for Wisconsin, as the Badgers grabbed the top seed for tonight, as well as the fourth and sixth seeds in Blair Stoneburg and Paige McKenna. That means McKenna will have a chance to defend her Big ten title in the event from last year tonight.

It was a huge start for Indiana, who are expected to be in a team battle for first with Ohio State at these championships. The Hoosiers managed to get three swimmers into the ‘A’ final tonight, while the Buckeyes didn’t see anyone advance to the ‘A’. Of note, Indiana’s Elyse Heiser clocked a lifetime best of 4:42.82 this morning to grab the final spot for the ‘A’ final.

Michigan freshman Katie Crom continues to perform well for the Wolverines, finishing third this morning with a 4:41.27, less than two seconds off her best time.

Nebraska’s Shannon Stott also advanced to the ‘A’ final, clocking a 4:41.65 for fifth this morning. That performance marks a new program record for the Huskers, and of note, that time would have qualified for NCAAs every year in the past, so Stott is set up well to make it to the big meet next month.

200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• Meet Record – 1:51.66, Beata Nelson (2020)
• Pool Record – 1:54.97, Siobhan Haughey (2016)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:53.66
• 2022 NCAA Invited Time – 1:56.85
• 2022 Champion – 1:54.43, Kristen Romano (Ohio State)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Josie Panitz (Ohio State) – 1:55.75
2. Phoebe Bacon (Wisconsin) – 1:56.13
3. Noelle Peplowski (Indiana) – 1:56.32
4. Devon Kitchel (Michigan) – 1:56.55
5. Megan Van Berkom (Minnesota) – 1:56.89
6. Mac Looze (Indiana) – 1:57.29
7. Letitia Sim (Michigan) – 1:57.72
8. Paige Hall (Ohio State) – 1:57.91

Ohio State’s Josie Panitz threw down a stunning 31.31 breaststroke to move herself into the lead in the penultimate heat this morning. That massive breast split helped propel Panitz to a field-leading 1:55.75 this morning, which is also a season best.

In the final heat, Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon and Indiana’s Noelle Peplowski battled it out. Bacon was ahead after backstroke, but Peplowski closed the gap on breaststroke. Peplowski then took the lead coming out of the breast-to-free turn, but Bacon was able to edge back in front on the final 25.

Michigan had a solid showing here, as freshman Devon Kitchel posted a huge swim of 1:56.55 to finish fourth this morning. Letitia Sim also made it back with a 1:57.72.

50 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• Meet Record – 21.28, Zhesi Li (2018)
• Pool Record – 21.63, Zhesi Li (2016)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 21.66
• 2022 NCAA Invited Time – 22.16
• 2022 Champion – 21.32, Maggie MacNeil (Michigan)

TOP EIGHT QUALIFIERS:

1. Teresa Ivan (Ohio State) – 21.78
2. Amy Fulmer (Ohio State) – 21.79
3. Lindsay Flynn (Michigan) – 21.92
4. Katherine Zenick (Ohio State) – 22.03
5. Nyah Funderburke (Ohio State) – 22.10
6. Ashley Turak (Indiana) – 22.11
7. Kristina Paegle (Indiana) – 22.17
8. Brady Kendall (Michigan) – 22.21

Ohio State’s sprint crew looks as good as ever. Teresa Ivan and Amy Fulmer took over the second-to-last heat this morning, posting the top two times in the event at 21.78 and 21.79. The Buckeyes also got Katherine Zenick and Nyah Funderburke into the ‘A’ final for tonight, marking the Buckeyes’ best showing of the morning.

Michigan’s sprint group is also looking alive and well, as Lindsay Flynn took third this morning in 21.92 and freshman Brady Kendall swam a massive personal best of 22.21 to take eighth. Kendall’s previous best was a 22.63, which she swam in November of 2021.