Minnesota Pushing Toward Big Ten Women’s Title

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, February 22. THE hosting Minnesota Golden Gophers made on day three as the team continued to pile up team points towards a likely win on the final day of the Big Ten Women's Championships. Minnesota leads with 573.5 points, while Indiana is second with 422.5 points. Penn State (342.5), Ohio State (263) and Purdue (238.5) round out the top five.

The Golden Gophers kicked the night off right as Tess Behrens, Haley Spencer, Becca Weiland and Erin Caflisch snatched the 400-yard medley relay title with a 3:31.45. That gave the Gophers a medley relay sweep after a night-one triumph in the 200-yard event. Ohio State's Kelsey Moran, Angela Severn, Shannon Draves and Michelle Williams took second in 3:33.55, while Indiana's Brooklyn Snodrass, Ashley Specht, Justine Ress and Cynthia Pammett placed third in 3:33.71.

Indiana's Dorina Szekeres dominated the field in the 400-yard IM with a 4:07.91, while Minnesota freshman Sam Harding emerged from a close battle for second with a 4:10.30. Michigan's Courtney Beidler (4:10.33) and Marni Oldershaw (4:10.98) earned third and fourth-place honors.

Minnesota then went 1-3 in the 100-yard fly as Becca Weiland won in 51.61 and Blake Zeiger posted a 52.70 for second. Ohio State's Shannon Draves split the difference with a 52.29. Penn State freshman Alyson Ackman took down a stacked field in the 200-yard free with a 1:44.83 for the win. Minnesota's Kiera Janzen placed second in 1:45.20, while Indiana's Lindsay Vrooman touched third in 1:45.33. Minnesota picked up big team points as well with Lauren Weis (1:46.03) and Jessica Plant (1:46.23) taking fourth and fifth.

Minnesota had another 1-3 in the 100-yard breast as Haley Spencer won the finale in 59.15 and teammate Kierra Smith finished third in 1:00.59. Indiana's Ashley Specht (59.54) and Bronwyn Pasloski (1:00.69) placed second and fourth. Indiana's Brooklyn Snodgrass raced to victory in the 100-yard back with a 52.07 after clocking a 52.06 in prelims, while Ohio State's Kelsey Moran earned second in 53.00. Penn State's Paige Whitmire finished third in 53.17.

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