Cierra Runge and Vini Lanza Named Big Ten Swimmers of the Week

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

The Big Ten Conference announced its top swimmers and divers for this past week Wednesday afternoon. Those recognized included Wisconsin sophomore Cierra Runge and Indiana sophomore Vini Lanza, who were named conference swimmers of the week.

Female Swimmer of the Week
Cierra Runge, Wisconsin
So. – Cochranville, Pa. – Octorara

Broke a school record on each day of the four-day Texas Invitational, recording four automatic NCAA qualifying marks
Collected a trio of first-place finishes at the Texas Invitational, including Texas pool records in the 500-yard freestyle (4:35.55) and the 200-freestyle (1:43.18)
Touched first in the 1,650-yard freestyle event, recording an NCAA “A” standard qualifying time of 15:52.22
Anchored the 800-yard freestyle relay that broke the school record with an “A” cut time of 7:05.42 on the first day of competition to take fourth place
Earns her first career Big Ten Swimmer of the Week award
Last Wisconsin Swimmer of the Week: Chase Kinney (Oct. 19, 2016)

Female Diver of the Week
Yu Zhou, Minnesota
Sr. – Wuhan, China – Beijing College of Sports

Swept the diving events at AT&T Winter Nationals, scoring 349.70 in the one-meter event and 398.10 in the three-meter event
Recorded NCAA Zone qualifying scores in both events
2015-16 Academic All-Big Ten honoree
Earns her 14th career Diver of the Week honor
Last Minnesota Diver of the Week: Yu Zhou (Nov. 23, 2016)

Female Freshman of the Week
Lindsey Horejsi, Minnesota
Albert Lea, Minn. – Albert Lea HS

Collected a trio of top-five finishes at AT&T Winter Nationals, including three NCAA “B” standard qualifying times
Finished fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke (59.41) and the 200-yard breaststroke (2:10.05), and finished fourth in the “B” final in the 50-yard freestyle (22.84), recording NCAA “B” standard qualifying times in all three events
Contributed to first-place finishes and NCAA provisional qualifying times in the 200- and 400-yard medley relay with times of 1:37.71 and 3:34.15, respectively
Earns her second Freshman of the Week award
Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Lindsey Horejsi (Nov. 16, 2016)

Male Swimmer of the Week
Vini Lanza, Indiana
So. – Belo Horizonte, Brazil – Colégio Estadual Governador Milton Campos

Collected six top-five finishes at AT&T Winter Nationals, including school records and NCAA “A” standard times in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events with times of 45.56 and 1:41.34, respectively
Recorded first-place finishes in the 200-yard individual medley (1:43.57) and 200-yard butterfly (1:41.34) and took second in the 100-yard butterfly (45.56)
Contributed to a trio of first-place marks and NCAA Provisional qualifying times in the 200-yard medley relay (1:25.13), 400-yard medley relay (3:09.51) and 400-yard freestyle relay (2:52.93)
Earns his first career Swimmer of the Week honor
Last Indiana Swimmer of the Week: Blake Pieroni (Nov. 16, 2016)

Male Diver of the Week
Matt Barnard, Minnesota
Sr. – Brisbane, Australia – Ormiston College

Swept the diving events at AT&T Winter Nationals, scoring 385.45 in the one-meter event and 441.65 in the three-meter event
The 2015-16 Academic All-Big Ten honoree recorded NCAA Zone qualifying marks in both events
Earns his seventh Diver of the Week award
Last Minnesota Diver of the Week: Matt Barnard (Oct. 19, 2016)

Male Freshman of the Week
Cooper Hodge, Wisconsin
Cincinnati, Ohio – Archbishop Moeller

Placed seventh in the 400-yard individual medley (3:53.22) at the Texas Invitational
Recorded an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 200-yard individual medley (1:48.29)
Contributed to a 400-yard medley relay team that took 20th in a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:48.29.
Took 26th in the 100-yard breaststroke (56.01) and 32nd in the 200-yard backstroke (1:51.40)
Earns his first career Freshman of the Week honor
Last Wisconsin Freshman of the Week: Kevin Pomeroy (Oct. 26, 2016)

Press releases courtesy of the Big Ten.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

1 Comment

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Rose Unicomb

7 years ago

Congratulations Cierra!!!