Ohio State will host swimmers from 11 different schools this weekend at its Winter Invitational. Prelims on Saturday and Sunday will begin at 11:00 a.m. ET; Saturday’s finals session will begin at 5:00 p.m. ET and on Sunday finals will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET
Live results for the weekend can be found here.
Parking Information
For this weekend fans should park in the Neil Avenue Garage directly adjacent to McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion for an event rate of $5. CampusParc will begin selling parking one hour prior to all home meets this season.
Welcome to Columbus
The Buckeyes will welcome swimmers from the following schools this weekend: Cleveland State University, Eastern Michigan University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Miami University, University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, Purdue University, University of Missouri, Vanderbilt University, and Wright State University
Event Schedule
Competition will be split up into two days.
Saturday will feature prelims and finals for the 500 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, 400 IM, and 100 freestyle. The afternoon session will begin with the 200 medley relay finals and conclude with the 200 freestyle relay finals
On Sunday you’ll be able to see the 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 50 freestyle, 200 butterfly, and 200 IM both in the morning and afternoon. The finals session will start with the 400 medley relay and end with the 400 freestyle relay. In between prelims and finals there will be a timed 1650 freestyle final.
In the Rankings
In the most recent edition of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America poll, Ohio State sits 22nd in the country, one of five Big Ten teams in the rankings. On CollegeSwimming.com the Buckeyes are 18th, with eight other Big Ten teams falling in the Top 40.
Looking Ahead
The regular season isn’t over yet, but the 2017 Big Ten Championships are right around the corner. This year they will be held in West Lafayette on the campus of Purdue. Anything you need to know about the meet can be foundhere.
Last Time Out
In their last dual meet of the season, the Buckeyes took down Wright State 153-88.
In addition to celebrating Senior Day, Ohio State claimed all but two events at the meet. Freshman Kathrin Demler won twice- the 100 and 200 backstroke- the only Buckeye to win two individual events against the Raiders.
Top Times
Here are Ohio State’s top individual times as of today:
50 free- Liz Li (21.70, 3rd in the NCAA this season)
100 free- Liz Li (48.20, 2nd in the B1G this season)
200 free- Lindsey Clary (1:46.57, 9th in the B1G this season)
500 free- Lindsey Clary (4:39.33, 6th in the B1G this season)
1000 free- Lindsey Clary (9:37.99. 7th in the NCAA this season)
1650 free- Lindsey Clary (15:57.03, 5th in the NCAA this season)
100 back- Liz Li (53.94, 14th in the B1G this season)
200 back- Zulal Zeren (1:55.09, 6th in the B1G this season)
100 breast- Taylor Vargo (59.86, 4th in the B1G this season)
200 breast- Taylor Vargo (2:09.43. 4th in the B1G this season)
100 fly- Liz Li (51.42, 6th in the NCAA this season)
200 fly- Meg Bailey (1:56.10, 3rd in the B1G this season)
200 IM- Meg Bailey (1:57.20, 3rd in the B1G this season)
400 IM- Lindsey Clary (4:05.90 9th in the NCAA this season)
The Story So Far
– Ohio State has won all but one of its dual meets this season, having beaten six Ohioan foes: Kenyon, Denison, Cleveland State, Miami (OH), Toledo, Akron, and Wright State as well as Cincinnati at its quad meet.
– Last weekend against Wright State, Ohio State honored its five outstanding seniors: Lindsey Clary, Kaitlyn Ferrara, Taylor Vargo, Chantel Wynn, and Zulal Zeren.
– This year the inaugural USA College Challenge was held, an event that pitted the best the Big Ten had to offer against USA Swimming. Lindsey Clary, Liz Li, and Taylor Vargo represented the Buckeyes and all made their marks.
– Li set a new Big Ten record in the 100 fly with her time of 51.42.The performance also automatically qualified her for NCAA Championships. She finished second in that race, only trailing American record holder and Olympian Kelsi Worrell.
– Li also posted an NCAA A time in the 50 freestyle (21.72, fastest in the country this year), an event she won. Nine total Big Ten swimmers won an individual event, including three on the women’s side, so Li put herself in elite company.
– Clary shined brightest in the 400 IM, her time of 4:05.90 currently puts her atop the NCAA leaderboard and all but assured her a spot at NCAA’s. She also had strong showings in the 500 (4:43.22) and 1000 free (9:37.99).
– Vargo appeared in the 200 breaststroke for the Big Ten, recording a time of 2:12.53 in the same event she competed in during this summer’s Olympic Trials.
– In early December, the 2016 AT&T Winter National Championships were held in Atlanta and Clary won a national title, placing first in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:39.33). It marks the second national title for Clary, who capture the 400 IM crown as a sophomore in 2014. Former Buckeye swimmer Aliena Schmidtke won a championship in the 100 butterfly. Her time of 51.87 outpaced the rest of the field to give her gold.
– A pair of swimmers have earned weekly honors for fantastic performances this season. Liz Li has been named Big Ten Swimmer of the Week twice this season Taylor Vargo was named CollegeSwimming’s Big Ten Swimmer of the Week after the OSU Invite. Vargo swept the breaststroke events in impressive fashion.
News courtesy of Ohio State Athletics.