Women’s B1G Championships Day 4 Prelims: Smith Downs 200 Breast Pool Record

The fourth and final day of the 2017 Big Ten Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships set up many showdowns for tonight’s final session. Olympians Kierra Smith and Lilly King will show down in the women’s 200 breast, while Li Zhesi and Siobhan Haughey are set up for a sprint duel in the 100 free.

2017 Big Ten Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, Day 4 Prelims – Results

200 Back Prelims:

The 200 back prelims were highlighted by three women posting 1:52’s. Indiana’s Kennedy Goss led the charge with the top qualifying time of 1:52.02, while Wisconsin’s Elizabeth Nelson picked up the second place seed with a 1:52.31. Clara Smiddy of Michigan rounded out the top three qualifiers with a time of 1:52.43.

Michigan’s Gabriel Deloof grabbed the fourth place seed with a 1:54.31, while Rutgers’ Vera Koprivova finished fifth with a 1:54.66.

Minnesota’s Tevyn Waddell (1:54.85), Nebraska’s Erin Oeltjen (1:55.17), and Minnesota’s Chantal Nack (1:55.24) return as sixth through eighth.

100 Free Prelims:

Li Zhesi of Ohio State flirted with a sub 48-second swim this morning, posting the top time at a 48.08 to qualify first in the 100 free prelims. Michigan’s Siobhan Haughey grabbed the second place seed with a 48.17, while Minnesota’s Zoe Avestruz turned in a 48.33 for third.

Wisconsin placed three women in the ‘A’ final as Chase Kinney (48.38), Emmy Sehmann (49.02), and Marissa Berg (49.03) return as fourth, sixth, and seventh respectively.

Catherine Deloof of Michigan turned in a 48.95 for the fifth place seed, while Northwestern’s Annika Winsnes posted a 49.33 for eighth.

200 Breast Prelims:

Kierra Smith of Minnesota downed the 200 breast pool record at Purdue University with a qualifying time of 2:06.81 in prelims. The previous record of 2:07.30 was set by Purdue’s own Emily Fogle in 2015. Indiana’s Lilly King picked up the second place seed for tonight’s final with a 2:07.67, setting the two of them up for a strong battle in tonight’s final.

Ohio State’s Taylor Fargo grabbed the third place seed with a time of 2:08.56, followed closely by Wisconsin’s Maria Carlson’s 2:08.89.

Emily Kopas of Michigan took fifth with a 2:09.99, while Emma Sougstad of Iowa returns as sixth with a 2:10.62.

Minnesota’s Lindsey Horejsi and Indiana’s Laura Morley complete the top eight qualifiers with times of 2:10.75 and 2:11.50 respectively.

200 Fly Prelims:

Prelims of the 200 fly saw all eight of the top qualifiers posting qualifying times within .73 seconds of one another. B1G record holder Gia Dalesandro of Indiana led the charge with a 1:56.26, followed closely by Michigan’s Astrid Swensen’s 1:56.30.

Danielle Nack of Minnesota touched with a time of 1:56.46 for the third place seed, while Michigan’s Vanessa Krause grabbed fourth with a 1:56.68.

Penn State’s Katelynn Sowinski (1:56.78), Purdue’s Taite Kitchel (1:56.91), Indiana’s Bailey Pressey (1:56.93), and Ohio State’s Meg Bailey (1:56.99) rounded out the top eight qualifiers.

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