Michigan Takes Slim Lead Into Second Day of Women’s Swimming and Diving Big Ten Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swim & Dive
COLUMBUS, Ohio Michigan leads the conference pack at the 2008 Women’s Swimming and Diving Big Ten Championships with 182 points after the first day of competition Thursday at the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio. In second is Minnesota with 177.5 points with Penn State trailing in third with 145 points.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better night from our individual swimmers,” Jim Richardson, Michigan head coach, said. “We broke our school record in the 400-yard medley relay and our 200-yard freestyle relay never projected to be that fast in the beginning of the year. It was just a fun day.”
At the start of the evening, the Wisconsin relay team of seniors Hannah McClurg, Jackie Vavrek and freshmen Maggie Meyer and Kelsey Gergen swam a pool and Big Ten record 1:28.51 in the 200-yard freestyle style relay. Michigan’s squad of senior Melissa Jaeger, junior Hannah Smith and Payton Johnson and sophomore Margaret Kelly took second in a time of 1:29.82, while Minnesota took third in 1:30.24. The Golden Gopher team consisted of senior Roxane Akradi and juniors Stacy Busack, Meredith McCarthy and Erin Holtmeyer.
“We’re happy to set a Big Ten record with the first win,” Eric Hansen, Wisconsin women’s swimming and diving head coach, said. “We had two freshmen on that relay who really stepped up under pressure and we had two seniors who are great leaders that helped bring the two freshmen along. I give them all the credit in the world.”
Junior 500-yard freestyle champion Emily Brunemann of Michigan swam a 4:40.32 to nab the event title. Earlier in the day, Brunemann set a new pool and Big Ten record in the 500 freestyle swimming a 4:39.60 in the preliminaries. Indiana freshman Amanda Smith swam into second with a 4:43.33 while Kelly Nelson, a junior from Penn State, finished third in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:43.54.
Wolverine sophomore Kelly again found herself on the medal podium, but this time in first. After helping the Michigan relay team to a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle, Kelly won the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 1:56.80. With her mark, the Ann Arbor, Mich., native set a pool and Big Ten record. Teammate Justine Mueller finished second in 1:57.61 while Minnesota junior Jenny Shaughnessy took third in 1:58.95.
Vavrek of Wisconsin was the victor in the 50-yard freestyle, swimming to the event title in a time of 22.36. Finishing second was sophomore Andrea Hupman of Northwestern in 22.40. Earlier, Hupman set the pool and Big Ten championship record with a 22.26 in the event preliminaries. Golden Gopher Busack took third in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.47.
In the 1-metet diving event finals, Brittney Feldman, a sophomore from Indiana, scored a total of 320.80 to capture the title Thursday. Purdue sophomore Ashley Karnes scored a 317.45 to take second while Ohio State freshman Bianca Alvarez nabbed third with a total of 310.70.
The meet ended with the Golden Gophers taking the 400-yard medley relay in a time of 3:34.16. Minnesota’s Akradi, Busack, and freshmen Megan Braun and Jillian Tyler set a new pool and Big Ten time. Michigan’s relay of seniors Jaeger and Mueller, junior Smith and sophomore Kelly swam a 3:36.07 for second and rounding up the Top 3 in the medley relay was Northwestern’s team of freshmen Katie Eschenburg and Hayley Fry and sophomores Katie Braun and Hupman in a time of 3:39.01. All three times broke the previous pool record of 3:39.27 while Minnesota and Michigan cracked the previous meet record of 3:36.39.
Competition continues with the preliminaries starting at 11 a.m. and finals at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
2008 Women’s Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships
Thursday Finals
Feb. 21, 2007
Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion
Columbus, Ohio
Quotes
Swimming Finals
Wisconsin, 200-yard freestyle relay winner
Eric Hansen, Wisconsin head coach
On Wisconsin’s win in the 200-yard freestyle relay
“We’re happy with the first win. I think we can get even better for the NCAA championships, which is our main focus. We’re happy to set a Big Ten record. We had two freshmen on that relay who really stepped up under pressure and we had two seniors who are great leaders that helped bring the two freshmen along. I give them all the credit in the world.”
Jackie Vavrek, Wisconsin senior
On the relay
“I knew we had a pretty good relay, but I didn’t think it would be that good. Watching the end of that relay, with us starting with two seniors and ending with two freshmen it’s so great where our program is going.”
500-yard freestyle winner Erin Brunemann, Michigan junior
On winning the race
“I was really happy with this morning and I just wanted to come out and repeat that tonight. My splits were a little off this afternoon, but I tried my best. I’m happy with my performance all around.”
On competing against All-American Yuen Kobayashi
“It comes down to gut and what you have left, especially at the end of the 500. She’s a great competitor and I’ve always loved racing against her.”
200-yard individual medley winner Margaret Kelly, Michigan sophomore
Jim Richardson, Michigan head coach
On Margaret Kelly, winner of the 200-yard individual medley
“Margaret has a wonderful personality and is an extremely hard worker. When she wins, everyone who knows her wins too. She gets in the pool everyday and tries to get better. “
On the day overall
“We couldn’t have asked for a better night from our individual swimmers. We broke our school record in the 400-yard medley relay and our 200-yard freestyle relay never projected to be that fast in the beginning of the year. It was just a fun day.”
50-yard freestyle winner Jackie Vavrek, Wisconsin senior
On her performance
“It was a good race but I was a little disappointed with it, personally. Setting the 200-yard freestyle rely record makes up for it though.”
Minnesota, 400-yard medley relay winner
Kelly Kremer, Minnesota head coach
On Minnesota’s win in the 400-yard medley relay
“What a perfect way to finish a session and the day. Our team did an outstanding job today from start to finish.”
Diving Finals
1-meter winner Brittney Feldman, Indiana sophomore
On winning the 1-meter dive
“It feels really good. I was actually nervous coming in because I’ve been out for a while. It feels great to be able to prove to myself mentally that I can still stick in there, even if I haven’t been able to train as much.”
