2021 BIG TEN WOMEN CHAMPIONSHIP
- When: Tuesday, February 23 to Saturday, February 27 | Preliminaries 11am | Finals 6:30 pm (5 pm Tuesday) CT
- Where: Minneapolis, MN (Central Time Zone) / Diving @ Purdue University
- Defender of the champion: Ohio State (1x) (results)
- Live Scores
- Streaming: Big Ten Network
- Central Championship
After the first two massive days, the Ohio State Buckeyes was a little quieter in the preliminary session for the third day, although they have more than enough to stay on top of the team race now.
Michigan Maggie MacNeil is one of the exciting names who run the 100 miles tonight, looking to defend their title and extend their winning streak to three in this encounter. Freshman Wolverine Kathryn Ackerman was the field class this morning at 400 IM, the only swimmer below 4:10 with 4: 08.79, but three seconds off her best. An experienced group of IMers will chase, including last night’s 200 IM champion Kristen Romano of OSU.
The free 200, in turn, will be a direct confrontation between a series of balanced competitors.
The dive has its first session of finals in West Lafayette tonight at 3 meters, while there will be no relays this evening.
DAY THREE FINAL HEAT SHEETS
100 FLY – FINALS
- Record of Big Ten meetings – 49.42, Maggie MacNeil (Michigan) – 2020
- Big Ten record – 49.26, Maggie MacNeil (Michigan) – 2020
- 2020 NCAA Invitation Schedule – 52.34
- Title Champion: Maggie MacNeil (Michigan), 49.42
Top 3
- Maggie MacNeil (Michigan) – 49.68
- Olivia Carter (Michigan) – 51.54
- Maddie Smith (Northwestern) – 52.09
Maggie MacNeil had another under-50 performance, defending his 100 flying title for the second time, making it three straight. She was 49.68, winning for almost two seconds. Your teammate Olivia Carter, another junior, had 51.54 per second, just after her morning PR.
MacNeil assumes as the best season in the country this year.
Maddie Smith continues his huge week, dropping an additional 0.3 from his best preliminary of 52.43 to grab the bronze. Smith went 52.09 tonight, setting a new Northwest record of advantage Miriam Guevarathe record of 52.20. Guevara was fourth here tonight, just 0.04 of his best and the previous school record of 52.20.
Kit Kat Zenick, a freshman from Ohio, took fifth place with a 52.73.
Ohio State freshman Catherine Russo lost a second to win Final B with a new best of 52.33.
400 IM – FINAL
- Record Big Ten meetings – 4: 01.41, Alyssa Vavra (Indiana) – 2012
- Big Ten record – 4: 01.35, Calypso Sheridan (Northwestern) – 2019
- 2020 NCAA Invitation Schedule – 4: 10.39
- Title champion: Calypso Sheridan (Northwestern), 4: 03.18
Top 3
- Kristen Romano (Ohio State) – 4: 06.75
- Katherine Trace (Ohio State) – 4: 07.90
- Josie Grote (Indiana) – 4: 07.99
Kristen Romano of Ohio seemed very strong from the start, the pace accelerated since his dive into the butterfly. Last night’s 200 IM champion dominated the longest IM race here, posting a 4: 06.75 to move into the national top-10.
The freestyle part of the race saw three swimmers converge, as senior OSU Katherine Trace came from behind and made a Buckeye submit 1-2. Trace was 4: 07.90, passing from Indiana Josie Grote (4: 07.99) when Grote passed the Michigan freshman Kathryn Ackerman (4: 08.37). Ackerman was a few seconds off his November 4: 5-plus, but 0.4 better than his preliminary swim.
Indiana’s Bailey Kovac and freshman from Michigan Claire Donan were tied in final B, Kovac taking the win, 4: 13,18 to 4: 13,19.
In the C-final, Kaitlynn Sims dropped 4: 13.35 for the win.
200 FREE – FINAL
- Big Ten game record – 1: 41.57, Siobhan Haughey (Michigan) – 2019
- Big Ten Record – 1: 40.69, Siobhan Haughey (Michigan) – 2018
- 2020 NCAA Invitation Schedule – 1: 45.23
- Current champion: Cora Dupre (Indiana), 1: 43.61
Top 3
- Autumn Haebig (Nebraska) – 1: 44.39
- Ella Ristic (Indiana) – 1: 44.89
- Lillie Hosack (Wisconsin) – 1: 45.42
It was a close battle, with a lot of new faces; none of these women were in final A of this race last year.
It was a historic victory for the Nebraska veteran Autumn Haebig, who cut 0.6 on his own school record. This is great for Nebraska – the Huskers have never won a Big Ten conference title since joining the conference in 2012. Indiana freshman Ella Ristic took a big dip for the second, going 1: 44.89 to a best for almost a second and his first best since 2019.
Wisconsin Junior Lillie Hosack took the bronze, posting a 1: 45.42, as Michigan’s second year Megan Glass it was also below 1:46 for fourth place at 1: 45.95. The glass broke 1:47 for the first time in foreplay, then it broke 1:46 tonight for the first time.
Sally Tafuto of Ohio State won the final B, scoring 1: 46.48.
DIVING 3 METERS – FINAL
- Big Ten meeting record – 430.60, Sarah Bacon (Minnesota) – 2019
- Big Ten Record – 430.60, Sarah Bacon (Minnesota) – 2019
- Current champion: Emily Bretscher (Purdue), 356.75
- Anne Fowler (Indiana) – 373.90
- Abigail Knapton (Nebraska) – 372.20
- Emily Bretscher (Purdue) – 369.90
Indiana freshman Anne Fowler obtained a great victory in the 3 meters, scoring a 373.90, just ahead of Nebraska Abigail Knapton (372.20). Minnesota’s Sarah Bacon, the holder of the Big Ten record who won an Olympic red shirt last season after winning the 2019 NCAA 1 meter title, dropped to fourth place (369.00).
Purdue’s Emily Bretscher, the current champion, came in third at 369.90, scoring higher than in 2020, but only surpassed Fowler and Knapton.
TEAM SCORE (through a 3 meter dive)
- Ohio State 739
- Michigan 610.5
- Indiana 461
- Northwest 388
- Wisconsin 327
- Minnesota 241
- Nebraska 231
- Iowa 226.5
- Pennsylvania State University 189
- Purdue University 136
- Illinois 109
- Michigan State University 104
- Rutgers University 30