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 2018 Men’s Big Ten Championships kick off tonight with finals of the 200 medley relay and 800 free relay in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Indiana Hoosiers look to defend their title this year but could have a tough battle against rival Michigan.
MEN’S 200 MEDLEY RELAY:
- GOLD: Indiana, 1:23.95
- SILVER: Minnesota, 1:24.25
- BRONZE: Ohio State, 1:24.52
Indiana freshman Gabriel Fantoni is already making a big impact for his team. Fantoni gave the Hoosiers the lead by over 6 tenths with his 20.98 backstroke split. Ian Finnerty followed that up with a 23.50 through the breast leg, while Vini Lanza threw down a sub-20 with a 19.98 on the fly leg. Ali Khalafalla sealed the deal for the Hoosiers, anchoring in 19.52 to hold off Minnesota, who got a blistering 18.24 free split from Bowen Becker. In addition to Bowen’s free splti being the fastest of the field, the Gophers had the fastest breast split with a 23.40 from Conner McHugh.
Ohio State secured the last spot on the medal stand, while Michigan touched 4th in 1:24.79.
MEN’S 800 FREE RELAY:
- GOLD: Indiana, 6:11.50
- SILVER: Michigan, 6:16.51
- BRONZE: Ohio State, 6:16.92
The Hoosiers were out to the early lead again with a 1:33.19 leadoff from Mohamed Samy. On the 2nd leg, Blake Pieroni charged to a 1:31.51, matching Michigan’s Felix Auboeck (1:31.51) but still holding Indiana’s lead. The Hoosiers built their lead to 5 seconds as they won the race, with Vini Lanza (1:33.49) and Ian Finnerty (1:33.31) taking on the back half. Michigan held off Ohio State for silver as the Buckeyes took 3rd with a 1:32.93 from freshman Paul DeLakis on the 2nd leg.
TEAM SCORES THROUGH DAY 1:
1. Indiana University 128 2. Ohio State University 108 2. Michigan, University of 108 4. University of Minnesota 106 5. Iowa, University of 96 5. Wisconsin, University of, Madi 96 5. Pennsylvania State University 96 8. Purdue University 90 9. Northwestern University 80 10. Michigan State University 68
Would love a list of best splits in the country by grade. Would love to see stand-out swimmers from each time, conference, relay, stroke/split, etc. Just an idea 🙂
Geez – last weekend, most people missed Mauro Castillo dropping a 45-mid fly. Now we got Finnerty going 1:33.
I guess if we got Dressel invading the breaststroke, the breatstrokers are striking back
1:31.51 for Auboeck. I’m favoring him for the 500 and 1650 at NCAAs.
Shoutout to Ian Finnerty for being a breaststroker and putting up a 1:33.3 on the 800 free relay. Love seeing versatile breaststrokers
As well as breaststroker Paul Delakis with the 1:32.9. A freshman. Much more impressive
DeLakis was a 1:36.10 200 freestyler from a flat start as a junior in high school, and splitting 43-mids on 100 free splits as a junior and senior in high school. He has always been a very good freestyler. I’m not so sure he’s a breastroker as much as a very solid IMer with good breaststroke skills and really good freestyle skills.
Bowen Becker oh my lanta ? 18.2 is no joke ????
https://twitter.com/GopherSwimDive/status/966482306725699584
Here’s about half of the 2 Med, doesn’t really look like Khalafalla had that bad of a start but definitely was not sharp the first 25.
It looks like his hands might have split apart on the dive, he was basically at a standstill on the breakout.
Ah, I see that yeah. Start itself wasn’t bad but he didn’t look like he was going anywhere on the breakout.
Thanks for sharing! Yeah, something weird happened once he entered. IU had over a second lead over the 2nd place team but several teams almost caught him off that start.
Why did Michigan play their takeovers so safe?
so they dont get disqualified
Go Gophers!!!!