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Indiana Women Beat Ohio State By .5 Points to Snap Four-Year Big Ten Title Streak

2024 WOMEN’S BIG TEN SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

With the Big Ten women’s title coming down to the final 400 freestyle relay on Saturday night, Indiana sophomore Kristina Paegle posted a blistering 46.65 anchor to carry the Hoosiers past Ohio State (3:12.70) for a runner-up finish in 3:11.37 behind Michigan (3:11.21) — and the overall meet victory.

Trailing by 1.5 points heading into the last race, Indiana ended the session with 1,359 points across the four days of competition — just .5 points ahead of the Buckeyes (1,358.5), snapping their four-year winning streak at the Women’s Big Ten Championships.

Ohio State led by more than a second through the first three legs of the 400 free relay courtesy of senior Kit Kat Zenick (48.03), junior Teresa Ivan (live results split appears incorrect), and fifth-year Amy Fulmer (live results split also appears incorrect). But with everything on the line, Michigan junior Lindsay Flynn (47.09) and Paegle chased down Buckeyes senior Tristan Harrison (49.60) in a thrilling finish.

Paegle almost carried Indiana past Michigan, but Flynn held her off with the second-fastest split in the field at 47.09. Hoosiers junior Anna Peplowski (47.72), fifth-year Ashley Turak (47.71), and senior Ella Ristic (49.29) joined Paegle on their runner-up relay.

400 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

  • NCAA record: 3:05.84, Virginia – 2023
  • Meet record: 3:09.84, Michigan – 2022
  • Pool record: 3:11.60, Michigan – 2018
  • NCAA ‘A’ cut: 3:14.10
  • Time to qualify for 2023 NCAAs: 3:15.97

Top 8:

  1. Michigan – 3:11.21 *Pool record
  2. Indiana – 3:11.37
  3. Ohio State – 3:12.70
  4. Wisconsin – 3:14.51
  5. Penn State – 3:16.83
  6. Minnesota – 3:17.69
  7. Northwestern – 3:17.91
  8. Iowa – 3:19.26

The Wolverines’ quartet of freshman Stephanie Balduccini (48.09), senior Claire Newman (48.13), sophomore Brady Kendall (47.90), and Flynn used their depth to earn the 1st-place finish in 3:11.21 — still almost a second slower than their season-best 3:10.30.

Wisconsin placed 4th in 3:14.51 thanks to junior Abby Carlson (48.88), senior Phoebe Bacon (48.39), sophomore Abby Wanezek (48.47), and freshman Hailey Tierney (48.77). The Badgers have been as fast as 3:13.79 this season.

Every point mattered for Indiana, which got a big boost from Skyler Liu‘s .4-point victory on the 10-meter platform right before the 400 free relay. What a clutch performance from head coach Ray Looze‘s Hoosiers this week.

Final Team Scores

  1. Indiana – 1,359
  2. Ohio State – 1,358.5
  3. Michigan – 1,207
  4. Wisconsin – 978
  5. Minnesota – 816
  6. Purdue – 572.5
  7. Northwestern – 463.5
  8. Nebraska – 409
  9. Penn State – 382
  10. Rutgers – 363.5
  11. Iowa – 303
  12. Illinois – 204

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Gulf Coach
8 months ago

What a meet!!! You always want the meet to come down to the last relay!

Kristina Paegle is a MONSTER on relays!

Congratulations to Ray and the IU coaching staff!!!

MICH had a GREAT meet…this will be a 3 team meet over the next few years!

Yikes
Reply to  Gulf Coach
8 months ago

With OSU graduating so much talent it’s very possible Michigan wins it next year!

Last edited 8 months ago by Yikes
Michigan Fan
8 months ago

Michigan’s win in the final relay foreshadows their bid for the team title in 2025. Great meet, Blue!

Don Carrott is Done
8 months ago

Brian Schrader, Norm Wright and Ignacio Gayo were born on third base! It’s time to see if they can actually coach and recruit!

Cbus Parent
Reply to  Don Carrott is Done
8 months ago

Schrader has almost zero to do with the women’s team, he mainly coaches the men’s sprint group.

Hooooosier
8 months ago

Nothing like jumping up and down in a hotel room while watching the last session on my phone. Way to go ladies, another day of being a proud Hoosier!

Billy D For The Loss
8 months ago

Epic example of overconfidence by the Ohio State staff and team. Flaunting the ‘event wins’ by posting signs on the wall above their team bench. That approach doesn’t reflect a true ‘team.’ You can win a number of events and still lose the battle! All heart by the Hoosiers!

Phil McDade
Reply to  Billy D For The Loss
8 months ago

Benching Funderburke from the 400 free relay and her 49.06 flat-start 100 free from earlier in the evening session was certainly a choice as well.

Grant Drukker
Reply to  Billy D For The Loss
8 months ago

Idk kinda just sounds like team spirit

Meow
Reply to  Grant Drukker
8 months ago

Right?? Oh no, a team celebrated themselves.

swimfast
Reply to  Billy D For The Loss
8 months ago

Congrats to IU! Talk about an even playing field and an exciting meet to end up separated by only .5 points. Making comments about “overconfidence” or “flaunting event wins” is comical, especially coming from a team that has been known for years throughout the B1G for its over-the-top behavior. These things are part of the sport. And being #1 doesn’t make you any more of a true “team” than any one of the other teams.

swim dad
Reply to  swimfast
8 months ago

IU has been through an incredible culture shift in the past 2 years! They actually have a new values mission

Trademark THE
8 months ago

Yes!! Go THE indiana university

Andrew
8 months ago

Kristina Paegle legacy meet

dmjab13
8 months ago

can’t even be mad because both teams dq’d a relay, lol. what a meet

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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