Beata Nelson’s Near American Record Highlights Thursday Night of Big Ten’s–VIDEO

big-ten
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The second night of Big Ten’s from Ohio State featured four pool events with fast times and great races in all four of them. Three ladies from Asian countries won events in Columbus with China’s Rose Bi and Liz Li winning the 500 and 50 free, plus Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey winning the 200 IM. Bi and Haughey gave Michigan wins to put them in the lead after two days of swimming and diving.

The major highlight of the night though came from Beata Nelson of Wisconsin. She was out-raced by Haughey in the 200 IM but came back in the 400 medley relay to rattle the American record. Nelson swam a 49.78 for the second fastest time in history behind Ally Howe‘s 49.69 from last season. Nelson has quickly put herself back in the talks for national title favorites after she had a disappointing freshman season after being such a highly touted recruit.

It looks to be a three or four team race with Michigan (430) leading Indiana (396) and Ohio State (370) after two days. Minnesota (355) is also nearby in fourth.

Results

500 Free

In the first final of the night, Michigan junior Rose Bi got the Big Ten crown with a 4:35.09 in the 500 final on Thursday night in Columbus. She took the lead early and did not relinquish as she got serious pressure from Purdue senior Kaersten Meitz who finished second at 4:37.11. Michigan defending champion G Ryan finished in third at 4:37.37.

This is Bi’s first Big Ten title and she helps Michigan keep its streak alive in the event as Ryan won last year. Penn State’s Ally McHugh (4:38.44), Michigan’s Sierra Schmidt (4:38.68), Indiana’s Cassy Jernberg (4:39.22), Ohio State’s Molly Kowal (4:40.21) and Indiana’s Kennedy Goss (4:42.51) also competed in the championship final.

Michigan also got big points in the B-Final with a win from Rebecca Postoll (4:39.56) as the Wolverines moved all the way into second place after their 200 medley relay DQ.

 Event 3  Women 500 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
     B1G Meet: @ 4:34.40  2/16/2017 G Ryan, Michigan
         Pool: # 4:26.46  11/18/2016Katie G Ledecky, Stanford
                 4:36.30  A NCAA Qualifying
                 4:47.79  B NCAA Provisional
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Bi, Yirong       JR Michigan          4:38.88    4:35.09 A       32  
    r:+0.69  26.13        54.11 (27.98)
        1:21.85 (27.74)     1:49.80 (27.95)
        2:17.49 (27.69)     2:45.18 (27.69)
        3:12.90 (27.72)     3:40.60 (27.70)
        4:08.15 (27.55)     4:35.09 (26.94)
  2 Meitz, Kaersten  SR Purdue            4:37.66    4:37.15 B       28  
    r:+0.80  26.39        54.36 (27.97)
        1:22.58 (28.22)     1:50.77 (28.19)
        2:18.63 (27.86)     2:46.22 (27.59)
        3:13.74 (27.52)     3:41.49 (27.75)
        4:09.48 (27.99)     4:37.15 (27.67)
  3 Ryan, G          SR Michigan          4:39.27    4:37.37 B       27  
    r:+0.70  26.76        54.88 (28.12)
        1:23.36 (28.48)     1:51.79 (28.43)
        2:20.02 (28.23)     2:48.29 (28.27)
        3:16.32 (28.03)     3:44.03 (27.71)
        4:11.21 (27.18)     4:37.37 (26.16)
  4 McHugh, Allyson  JR Penn St           4:39.95    4:38.44 B       26  
    r:+0.81  27.01        55.04 (28.03)
        1:23.36 (28.32)     1:51.70 (28.34)
        2:20.01 (28.31)     2:48.18 (28.17)
        3:16.12 (27.94)     3:44.11 (27.99)
        4:11.76 (27.65)     4:38.44 (26.68)
  5 Schmidt, Sierra  FR Michigan          4:38.03    4:38.68 B       25  
    r:+0.76  26.44        54.32 (27.88)
        1:22.58 (28.26)     1:50.78 (28.20)
        2:19.04 (28.26)     2:47.11 (28.07)
        3:15.20 (28.09)     3:43.40 (28.20)
        4:11.65 (28.25)     4:38.68 (27.03)
  6 Jernberg, Cassa  SO Indiana           4:39.83    4:39.22 B       24  
    r:+0.73  26.23        54.11 (27.88)
        1:21.93 (27.82)     1:50.23 (28.30)
        2:18.43 (28.20)     2:46.69 (28.26)
        3:15.10 (28.41)     3:43.34 (28.24)
        4:11.62 (28.28)     4:39.22 (27.60)
  7 Kowal, Molly     SO Ohio St           4:40.73    4:40.21 B       23  
    r:+0.89  26.38        54.36 (27.98)
        1:22.53 (28.17)     1:50.76 (28.23)
        2:19.09 (28.33)     2:47.55 (28.46)
        3:15.83 (28.28)     3:44.06 (28.23)
        4:12.57 (28.51)     4:40.21 (27.64)
  8 Goss, Kennedy    SR Indiana           4:38.48    4:42.51 B       22  
    r:+0.62  26.42        54.66 (28.24)
        1:23.12 (28.46)     1:51.61 (28.49)
        2:19.71 (28.10)     2:48.05 (28.34)
        3:16.37 (28.32)     3:45.09 (28.72)
        4:13.96 (28.87)     4:42.51 (28.55)
               Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 3                 
 
  1. Indiana University                179   2. Michigan, University of           171
  3. University of Minnesota           150   4. Ohio State University             145
  5. Wisconsin, University of, Madi    138   6. Purdue University                 124
  7. Pennsylvania State University     120   8. University of Nebraska-Lincoln     89
  9. Iowa, University of                88   9. Northwestern University            88
 11. Rutgers University                 76  12. Michigan State University          64
 13. University of Illinois             58

200 IM

It did not take long for Michigan to get back into the meet after disqualifying their first relay. They have not lost a race yet as superstar junior Siobhan Haughey won the 200 IM final with a 1:53.59 for a new meet record. Haughey regains her Big Ten title she won as a freshman in 2016 after she touched first last year but was disqualified.

Haughey had her hands full with Wisconsin sophomore Beata Nelson who swam a 1:53.85 and was also under the old meet record. Nelson took Haughey out and was caught on the freestyle leg. This was a huge swim for Nelson who was a highly touted recruit and had a less than stellar freshman season.

Michigan’s Clara Smiddy (1:55.35), Ohio State’s Meg Bailey (1:56.05), Indiana’s Christie Jensen (1:56.76), Lilly King (1:56.81), Wisconsin’s Megan Doty (1:57.04) and Michigan’s Miranda Tucker (1:57.06) also swam in the championship final. King was the second defending champion of the night to be dethroned.

This race uniquely featured the last three Big Ten champions with 2015 champ Smiddy, 2016 champ Haughey and 2017 champ King all meeting in the final.

 Event 4  Women 200 Yard IM
=========================================================================
     B1G Meet: @ 1:54.97  2/18/2016 Siobhan B Haughey, Michigan
         Pool: # 1:52.63  11/30/2017Melanie Margalis, Saint Petersburg
                 1:55.00  A NCAA Qualifying
                 2:01.59  B NCAA Provisional
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Haughey, Siobha  JR Michigan          1:55.53    1:53.59@A       32  
    r:+0.76  24.93        53.81 (28.88)
        1:26.61 (32.80)     1:53.59 (26.98)
  2 Nelson, Elizabe  SO Wisconsin         1:55.20    1:53.85@A       28  
    r:+0.74  24.50        52.94 (28.44)
        1:26.16 (33.22)     1:53.85 (27.69)
  3 Smiddy, Clara    SR Michigan          1:56.80    1:55.35 B       27  
    r:+0.66  25.77        53.47 (27.70)
        1:26.98 (33.51)     1:55.35 (28.37)
  4 Bailey, Meg      SR Ohio St           1:56.45    1:56.05 B       26  
    r:+0.75  25.36        54.29 (28.93)
        1:27.82 (33.53)     1:56.05 (28.23)
  5 Jensen, Christi  JR Indiana           1:56.97    1:56.76 B       25  
    r:+0.67  25.02        55.21 (30.19)
        1:28.77 (33.56)     1:56.76 (27.99)
  6 King, Lillia     JR Indiana           1:56.03    1:56.81 B       24  
    r:+0.69  25.65        55.78 (30.13)
        1:28.30 (32.52)     1:56.81 (28.51)
  7 Doty, Megan      SO Wisconsin         1:57.45    1:57.04 B       23  
    r:+0.74  25.28        54.50 (29.22)
        1:29.23 (34.73)     1:57.04 (27.81)
  8 Tucker, Miranda  SO Michigan          1:56.97    1:57.06 B       22  
    r:+0.64  25.04        56.08 (31.04)
        1:29.05 (32.97)     1:57.06 (28.01)
  Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 4                 
 
  1. Michigan, University of           286   2. Indiana University                254
  3. Wisconsin, University of, Madi    205   4. Ohio State University             195
  5. University of Minnesota           165   6. Pennsylvania State University     131
  7. Purdue University                 128   8. Northwestern University           105
  9. University of Nebraska-Lincoln     97  10. Iowa, University of                88
 11. Rutgers University                 76  12. Michigan State University          64
 13. University of Illinois             58

50 Free

Ohio State’s Liz Li set the pool on fire on Thursday night in Columbus as she swam a 21.28 for a new Big Ten meet record. She was not far off the fastest time in history either with Abbey Weitzeil currently sitting at the top of the all-time rankings with a 21.12 from the 2016 American Short Course Championships. Li stays in fifth all-time as she went 21.29 at NCAA’s a year ago.

This is the third year in a row Li has won the 50 free at Big Ten’s.

Minnesota’s Danielle Nack (22.10) and Ohio State’s Macie McNichols (22.14) finished second and third as no one could touch Li in the final.

Michigan’s Catie DeLoof (22.16), Ohio State’s Freya Rayner (22.19), Wisconsin’s Marissa Berg (22.22), Minnesota’s Zoe Avestruz (22.30) and Indiana’s Grace Haskett (22.35) also swam in the championship final.

Ohio State moved into second in the team standings ahead of Indiana thanks to three swimmers in the championship final.

 Event 5  Women 50 Yard Freestyle
=========================================================================
     B1G Meet: @ 21.67  2/15/2018 Zhesi Li, Ohio St-OH
         Pool: # 21.67  2/15/2018 Zhesi Li, Ohio St-OH
                 21.80  A NCAA Qualifying
                 22.99  B NCAA Provisional
    Name           Year School            Prelims     Finals       Points 
=========================================================================
                            === A - Final ===                            
 
  1 Li, Zhesi        SR Ohio St             21.67      21.28@A       32  
    r:+0.65  10.29        21.28 (10.99)
  2 Nack, Danielle   SR Minnesota           22.17      22.10 B       28  
    r:+0.69  10.71        22.10 (11.39)
  3 McNichols, Maci  SR Ohio St             22.34      22.14 B       27  
    r:+0.63  10.68        22.14 (11.46)
  4 Deloof, Catheri  JR Michigan            22.36      22.16 B       26  
    r:+0.67  10.72        22.16 (11.44)
  5 Rayner, Freya    FR Ohio St             22.42      22.19 B       25  
    r:+0.66  10.80        22.19 (11.39)
  6 Berg, Marissa    SR Wisconsin           22.33      22.22 B       24  
    r:+0.67  10.73        22.22 (11.49)
  7 Avestruz, Zoe    JR Minnesota           22.35      22.30 B       23  
    r:+0.63  10.74        22.30 (11.56)
  8 Haskett, Grace   FR Indiana             22.38      22.35 B       22  
    r:+0.66  10.79        22.35 (11.56)
  Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 5                 
 
  1. Michigan, University of           340   2. Ohio State University             321
  3. Indiana University                305   4. Wisconsin, University of, Madi    243
  5. University of Minnesota           218   6. Pennsylvania State University     136
  7. Purdue University                 129   8. Northwestern University           118
  9. Iowa, University of               100  10. University of Nebraska-Lincoln     97
 11. Rutgers University                 76  12. Michigan State University          73
 13. University of Illinois             58

400 Medley Relay

In a crazy night of swimming that has included an American Record from Caeleb Dressel, Wisconsin sophomore Beata Nelson narrowly missed the American Record in the 100 back with a 49.78 on Thursday night at the Big Ten Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Nelson just missed the record held by Stanford’s Ally Howe (49.69) as she moves to second all-time ahead of Kathleen Baker (49.84) and Natalie Coughlin (49.97). She is the fourth swimmer to break 50 seconds in the 100 back.

This is a huge swim for Nelson who’s best time was a 50.79 from the Texas Invite earlier this season. Nelson was one of the best recruits in the class of 2016 but had a lackluster freshman season last year, going only 52.11 at Big Ten’s last year for third and 52.55 for 27th at NCAA’s last year.

Nelson was not on a lot of people’s radar after not having swum well in a while, but she put her name back in swimming relativity with that 49 second swim.

This was leading off the 400 medley relay as there was still more swimming left in the crazy race. Nelson’s time helped Wisconsin finish fifth at 3:31.22.

Indiana ended up winning the 400 medley relay with a 3:27.81 to smash the Big Ten record they set last year.

Ali Rockett (51.25), Lilly King (56.92), Christie Jensen (51.01) and Grace Haskett (48.63) won the relay with Minnesota coming in second at 3:28.96.

That swim also broke the pool record that Arizona had from 2008 NCAA’s.

Tevyn Waddell (52.17), Lindsey Kozelsky (57.51), Danielle Nack (51.65) and Zoe Avestruz (47.63) put up a strong swim for the Golden Gophers as Kozelsky put up a really good breaststroke split there.

Michigan finished third in the relay with a 3:29.90. Ohio State (3:30.36), Wisconsin (3:31.22), Purdue (3:34.72), Nebraska (3:36.03) and Iowa (3:37.71) finished in the top eight.

 Event 7  Women 400 Yard Medley Relay
==================================================================================
     B1G Meet: @ 3:28.89  2/16/2017 Indiana University, Indiana
                          A Rockett, L King, G Dalesandro, H Spears
         Pool: # 3:29.06  3/16/2008 Arizona, Arizo
                          H deGolia, A Chandler, A Agy, L Nymeyer
                 3:32.67  A NCAA Qualifying
                 3:34.48  B NCAA Provisional
    School                           Seed     Finals       Points 
==================================================================================
  1 Indiana                       3:31.64    3:27.81@A       64  
     1) Rockett, Alexandra SR         2) r:0.33 King, Lillia JR       
     3) r:0.24 Jensen, Christine JR   4) r:0.18 Haskett, Grace FR     
    r:+0.70  24.68        51.25 (51.25)
        1:17.53 (26.28)     1:48.17 (56.92)
        2:11.65 (23.48)     2:39.18 (51.01)
        3:01.78 (22.60)     3:27.81 (48.63)
  2 Minnesota                     3:32.70    3:28.96#A       56  
     1) Waddell, Tevyn SO             2) r:0.16 Kozelsky, Lindsey SO  
     3) r:0.44 Nack, Danielle SR      4) r:0.27 Avestruz, Zoe JR      
    r:+0.61  25.20        52.17 (52.17)
        1:18.76 (26.59)     1:49.68 (57.51)
        2:13.21 (23.53)     2:41.33 (51.65)
        3:03.81 (22.48)     3:28.96 (47.63)
  3 Michigan                      3:31.88    3:29.90 A       54  
     1) Smiddy, Clara SR              2) r:0.27 Tucker, Miranda SO    
     3) r:0.25 Krause, Vanessa SO     4) r:0.22 Deloof, Gabrielle SR  
    r:+0.63  25.34        51.98 (51.98)
        1:18.83 (26.85)     1:50.23 (58.25)
        2:14.53 (24.30)     2:42.61 (52.38)
        3:04.85 (22.24)     3:29.90 (47.29)
  4 Ohio St                       3:35.74    3:30.36 A       52  
     1) Bradley, Rebekah SO           2) r:0.17 Gresser, Hanna FR     
     3) r:0.10 Li, Zhesi SR           4) r:0.03 Rayner, Freya FR      
    r:+0.69  25.76        52.96 (52.96)
        1:20.29 (27.33)     1:52.21 (59.25)
        2:15.60 (23.39)     2:42.39 (50.18)
        3:04.72 (22.33)     3:30.36 (47.97)
  5 Wisconsin                     3:34.21    3:31.22 A       50  
     1) Nelson, Elizabeth SO          2) r:0.16 Berg, Marissa SR      
     3) r:0.27 Saghafi, Ariana JR     4) r:0.05 Sehmann, Emmy JR      
    r:+0.69  24.07        49.78 (49.78)
        1:17.20 (27.42)   1:50.41 (1:00.63)
        2:14.61 (24.20)     2:42.51 (52.10)
        3:04.96 (22.45)     3:31.22 (48.71)
  6 Purdue                        3:37.73    3:34.72         48  
     1) Smailis, Jacklyn JR           2) r:0.02 Phee, Jinq En SO      
     3) r:0.22 Kitchel, Taite JR      4) r:0.09 Meitz, Kaersten SR    
    r:+0.60  25.83        53.89 (53.89)
        1:21.16 (27.27)     1:52.80 (58.91)
        2:17.04 (24.24)     2:45.95 (53.15)
        3:09.36 (23.41)     3:34.72 (48.77)
  7 Nebraska                      3:39.20    3:36.03         46  
     1) Haebig, Autumn FR             2) r:0.17 Worlton, Gwendolyn SO 
     3) r:0.11 Murray, Isabelle FR    4) r:0.20 Helferich, Lindsay JR 
    r:+0.66  25.76        53.36 (53.36)
        1:21.29 (27.93)   1:54.19 (1:00.83)
        2:18.54 (24.35)     2:47.11 (52.92)
        3:10.23 (23.12)     3:36.03 (48.92)
  8 Iowa                          3:41.27    3:37.71         44  
     1) Lavelle, Meghan SR            2) r:+0.40 Hoyt, Shea SR        
     3) r:+0.62 McNamara, Kelly JR    4) r:+0.15 Burvill, Hannah SO   
    r:+0.61  26.07        53.89 (53.89)
        1:22.04 (28.15)   1:55.27 (1:01.38)
        2:20.23 (24.96)     2:49.56 (54.29)
        3:12.39 (22.83)     3:37.71 (48.15)
 Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 7                      
 
  1. Michigan, University of           430   2. Ohio State University             424
  3. Indiana University                396   4. University of Minnesota           355
  5. Wisconsin, University of, Madi    298   6. Purdue University                 256
  7. Northwestern University           184   8. Pennsylvania State University     168
  9. Iowa, University of               158  10. Rutgers University                150
 11. University of Nebraska-Lincoln    143  12. Michigan State University         103
 13. University of Illinois             89
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Yasmin Mostafa
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