Columbus, OH, November 21, 2014 – The Ohio State University (OSU) Invitational began today with the teams of University of Arizona, University of Iowa, University of Kentucky, Kenyon College, Purdue University, University of Miami (FL), University of Virginia, and University of Wisconsin arriving at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion to compete through Sunday.
After just one day’s session of finals, the current point standings of top five teams on each side are as follows:
Women’s
Purdue – 291.0
Kentucky – 266.0
Wisconsin – 235.0
OSU – 194.0
Kenyon – 78.0
Men’s
OSU – 437.0
Wisconsin – 249.0
Kenyon – 142.0
Kentucky – 128.0
Purdue – 41.0
Women’s Events
Wisconsin women put the first points on the board in the form of a win in the 200y free relay. Their time of 1:29.96 passed the NCAA provisional mark and is only .47 away from the automatic qualifying time. Tonight, the line-up of Ivy Martin (22.30), Chase Kinney (22.33), Aja Van Hout (22.48), and Annie Tamblyn (22.85) teamed up to touch the wall ahead of second-place Purdue (1:32.14) and third place OSU (1:32.74).
Kentucky swimmer Kendal Casey won the 500y freestyle event in 4:43.61, with Boilermakers Allie Davis and Nika Petric right behind her in 4:44.05 and 4:44.77, respectively. The top five swimmers in this event all surpassed the NCAA “B” cut.
Kentucky continued its momentum with a 1-2 finish in the 200y IM, where Danielle Galyer (1:58.49) and Morgan Belli (2:01.55) each earned a “B” cut. To put her time in perspective, Galyer’s time would have placed sixth at last year’s SEC Championships.
Wisconsin put itself back on the board with Ivy Martin’s win in the 50y freestyle. Her time of 22.17 topped the field, followed by Kentucky’s Christy Bechtel (22.43) and Wisconsin’s Chase Kinney (23.05). Martin’s and Bechtel’s times both passed the “B” cut threshold and Martin’s mark would have finished second at last years Big 10 Championships (behind herself! – at 21.68).
To finish out the night, the Purdue women once again entered the picture with a win in the 400y medley relay. Although they were not to able to clear an NCAA time standard, the efforts of Hannah Manger (54.19), Emily Fogle (1:00.91), Alex Todd (53.19), and Abby Jagdfeld (49.38) combined for a time of 3:37.67, which was enough to hold off the rest of the field tonight. Wisconsin touched in second place with their time of 3:41.32 and Kentucky rounded out the event in 3:43.34 for third.
Men’s Events
The home team of OSU was able to strike first with their win in the 200y free relay. The squad of Josh Fleagle (19.82), Matt McHugh (19.74), Thomas Trace (19.82), and Michael DiSalle (20.12) combined for a strong 1:19.50. Wisconsin was second in 1:21.31, with OSU’s B team in third with 1:22.01.
OSU continued with a second win, this time by Brayden Seal in the 500y freestyle. His time of 4:19.82 was enough to put away Wisconsin’s Matt Hutchins (4:21.99) and also speed past the NCAA “B” mark, as did Hutchins’ time. Brandon Flynn (Kentucky) finished in third with his time of 4:25.47.
OSU led the men’s field with the top time in the 200y IM finals as well, with a couple of big swims out of their seniors. Tamas Gercsak claimed the first place spot with his time of 1:46.08, followed by teammate Steve Zimmerman in second with 1:46.95. Third was earned by Wisconsin’s Brett Pinfold in a time of 1:49.07. Gercsak’s time at Big 10 Championships last year was 1:46.96, so he certainly appears to be on the right track at this point in the season.
The top two finishers in the men’s 50y freestyle were also from OSU, as Josh Fleagle stormed to the wall in 19.60 (the only “B” cut of the final), while teammate Matt McHugh finished in 20.30. Wisconsin’s Cannon Clifton was immediately behind him for third in 20.35.
The OSU men topped off the night with a win in the 400y medley relay. The team of Steve Zimmerman (47.33), DJ McDonald (53.47), Matt McHugh (46.86), and Josh Fleagle (43.42) earned the win in a time of 3:11.08, just .05 off of the NCAA provisional clearance of 3:11.03. Finishing in second place were the Wisconsin Badger men, followed by the B team of OSU.
Competition continues tomorrow at 8:30am Eastern.
Full Meet Results Here