Women’s 400 IM Prelims
Another morning IM session, and more great prelims IM swims from the Michigan and Indiana groups. Hoosier sophomore Dorina Szerkes continued her coming-out party with a 4:10.98 in this race, followed by a pair of Michigan Wolverines in Courtney Beidler (4:11.16) and Marni Oldershaw (4:13.66). Both Indiana and Michigan got one swimmer into the highest scoring A-Final, but the Hoosiers can maybe close the scoring gap a little thanks to two swimmer in the B-Final.
Women’s 100 Fly Prelims
Much like we saw halfway across the country at the ACC meet, the Big Ten Championship 100 fly record moved under 52 seconds this morning as Minnesota’s Becca Weiland was a 51.91 for the fastest time ever at this meet. She will be chasing the overall record of 51.85, held by Michigan’s Caroline Rodriguez from 2009, in finals. Weiland has been locked-in through the first two days of this meet, and the only swimmer that looks like she might have a chance of catching the Gopher is Ohio State’s Shannon Draves in 52.58 after going out very fast on the first 50. Penn State’s McKenzie Powers is the 3rd seed in 52.80
Minnesota put three up in this event, including Blake Zieger in 4th in 53.10. Nebraska continues to make their present felt in their second Big Ten Championship meet with Shannon Guy swimming a 53.23 for the 5th seed.
Women’s 200 Free Prelims
Anybody who doesn’t believe that swimming has as much in-competition coaching as team sports like basketball or football needs to look at the meet Alyson Ackman is having for Penn State. After a lackluster first swim on Thursday in the 500 free, she’s been ignited; first by winning the B-Final in the 500 free, and now with taking the top seed in the 200 free with a lifetime-best of 1:45.37.
Indiana moves back into their wheelhouse in this race, the middle-distance frees, and has two in the top 5. That’s Cynthia Pammett in 2nd in 1:45.55, and 500 champion Lindsay Vrooman in 5th in 1:46.14. I’d expect Vrooman to contend for this title after a 4:35 in the longer race last night.
Purdue’s Rhi Sheets, just a sophomore, is another young swimmer having a big meet this weekend. She’ll be in the thick of the race with a 4th-seeded 1:45.97 after prelims.
Women’s 100 Breast Prelims
Haley Spencer had a tough go early this year, but her coach Kelly Kremer made sure she was ready for this Big Ten Championship and she took the top seed in this 100 breaststroke in 58.86. That’s a lifetime best by 7-tenths for the former NCAA 200 breaststroke champion who has found some serious speed in her senior year. By comparison, she was only a 1:02.2 this year coming in.
Indiana’s Ashley Specht will be right beside her with a personal best of her own in 59.49, turning ahead of Spencer halfway through. Michigan’s Angie Chokran, who has come on this year as a leader for her, was a 59.80 for the 3rd seed.
There will be two freshmen in this final: Kierra Smith from Minnesota in 4th in 1:00.30, and Penn State’s Melissa Rodriguez 6th in 1:01.42.
Wisconsin’s Anna Meinholz, notably, will be the top seed in the B-Final after going sub-1:02 for the first time in her career with a 1:01.69. She’s gone two best times this year already after having done her previous fastest as just a sophomore in high school.