Brendan Burns takes advantage of the Big Ten Meet, Four 41s to Close Meet schedule

2021 GREAT TEN MEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

What a submission for the 2021 Big Ten Men’s Championship. While Indiana, Michigan and Ohio State were tied for the past two days, the Wolverines squeezed in front. With the completion of the 200 breaststroke, Michigan had a clear path to victory, as long as DQ did not free the 400 relay.

Michigan ran away with him in the end, with Indiana in second and Ohio State in third. Decided by the 400-relay relay, Purdue took fourth place, his swimmers this year having an impressive competition. Last year, its divers were the main propellants when they reached seventh place, but the Boilers looked much better this year. Wisconsin and Northwestern were only behind in fifth and sixth, respectively, each falling one position in relation to the previous year.

Meanwhile, Iowa did enough in the 400-meter freestyle relay to pass Minnesota for eighth place. Iowa and Michigan State ended as programs with the end of the season, although the Hawkeyes were expected to be sophomores Will Myhre in NCAAs in the 100 breasts.

TEAM SCORE – FINAL

1. Michigan – 1401
2. Indian – 1357
3. Ohio State – 1322
4. Purdue – 732
5. Wisconsin – 729
6. Northwest – 722
7. Penn State – 619.5
8. Iowa – 566.5
9. Minnesota – 564
10. Michigan State – 196

The individual evening swim was Brendan Burns, Indiana’s second year, in the 200 coasts.

Burns took advantage of the unusual event schedule for this meeting, now a five-day meeting instead of a four-day meeting due to COVID-19, and the results were excellent. Burns, a phenomenal butterfly and backstroker, did 100 fly / 100 back double on the third day of the competition in 2020, then swam 200 fly on the last day. This year, the 200 flights were made on the fourth day, while the 200 back were on the fifth day.

Instead of the fly / back double in 100s, he managed to do 200 of each on separate days. The result? Burns won the 200 fly for the first time last night, breaking 1:40 for the first time to hit a 1: 39.22 and dominate the event. In the 200 meters final tonight, he again broke 1:40 and again dominated, scoring 1: 39.37 to win for more than a second.

Not only were those great moments better for Burns, but he is now ranked in the top five nationals in both events. He will probably return to 100 fly / 100 back double and then choose one of the 200s for the NCAA championship, but his improvements have been impressive this week.

It is unclear whether the conference will meet that schedule again, but Burns was able to compete in both races in a focus meet anyway and he is now a likely candidate for the NCAA A final in both.

Meanwhile, four men broke 42 seconds in flight starts at 400 free relay, and Michigan’s River Wright set a new Michigan record in the 100 freestyle (42.06) ahead of the Wolverines.

400 FREE RELAY ROOMS

* denoted initial legs