Five Races to Watch at the 2020 Big Ten Women’s Championships

The 2020 Big Ten Women’s Championships kick off this week at Iowa with a heavyweight battle expected between Michigan and Indiana, though Ohio State, Wisconsin, Northwestern and the rest of the field will have something to say about it.

The psych sheet has not officially been released, but there are plenty of anticipated races that will be exciting to watch at the Big Ten Women’s Championships this week.

Here is a look at five of them:

• 2019 Results

• More Big Ten coverage

200 individual medley

Another race that could feature Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson, and another race that could be highly contested.

Nelson’s 200 IM is perhaps her third best event as a backstroke specialist. She stunned the field by winning the 200 IM at the NCAA Championships last year.

Meanwhile, Northwestern’s Calypso Sheridan is an IM specialist. While she is better in the 400 IM, the 200 IM is something she has improved upon greatly. She was an All-American in the 400 IM last year and has a shot at making the Australian Olympic team in the event.

Ohio State’s Kathrin Demler is a butterfly specialist who also can put together an elite IM.

Heading into the meet, Nelson is the top time in 1:52.77, while Demler (1:56.45), Sheridan (1:56.57), Indiana’s Cora Dupre (1:57.33), Mackenzie Looze (1:57.50) and Michigan’s Miranda Tucker (1:57.66) are all in a pack waiting to strike.

This could be an underrated race at the Big Ten Women’s Championships with so many swimmers who have a chance to score at NCAAs.

Beata Nelson; Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

100 backstroke

Assuming they are both swimming the event, this could be a battle of the top two 100 backstroke swimmers in the NCAA — a prequel to the championships.

Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson is the defending NCAA champion in the event and could go head-to-head with Michigan’s Maggie MacNeil.

Nelson is the favorite, but you never know what could happen pre-taper. She won three events at last year’s NCAA Championships, but MacNeil had a breakout summer, winning the 100 fly world championship and tying the NCAA record in the event this season as well.

This will be the first big test to see where her backstroke is — assuming she swims the event.

Nelson has the top time in the Big Ten in 50.05, while MacNeil is at 50.81.

The University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team compete on the third day of the 2019 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships. Bloomington, IN, Feb. 22, 2019

Photo Courtesy: Walt Middleton Photography 2019

100 breaststroke

Michigan’s Miranda Tucker has been on the prowl this season, putting together some of the top breaststroke times in the country.

This will be her first head-to-head challenge since the midseason invitationals, and it will be perhaps the most anticipated individual showdown of the Big Ten Women’s Championships.

Along side her will be Minnesota’s Lindsey Kozeksly, who finished fourth at last year’s NCAA championships, three spots ahead of Tucker.

Tucker has the top spot so far this season at 58.41, an NCAA “A” cut. Kozelsky is second at 58.66, while Indiana’s Emily Weiss is not far behind at 59.00.

This could be another preview of the NCAA Championships and what is to come on the biggest stage.

Miranda Tucker; Photo Courtesy: Dan D’Addona

1,650 freestyle

Ohio State’s Molly Kowal had a breakout swim in the mile last year, finishing second in the NCAA in the event. She is looking to keep that momentum going this year.

Her first big test will be at the Big Ten Women’s Championships, facing Michigan’s Sierra Schmidt. Schmidt finished sixth at last year’s NCAA Championships, but has been swimming at a faster pace this year.

And Michigan’s Kaitlynn Sims has put together some strong distance events as well, so she can’t be counted out.

Schmidt has the best time heading into the meet at 15:49.90, while Sims is second at 15:51.06, both NCAA automatic qualifying times. Kowal is third at 16:03.23.

The mile is not usually a must-see event at a conference meet, but this one could be.

Molly Kowal; Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

200 butterfly

This one is definitely more under-the-radar in regard to the big names, but it could end up being the closest race and have a big impact in the team scoring at the Big Ten Women’s Championships.

Ohio State’s Kathrin Demler is the defending Big Ten champion in the event and the favorite going in.

But Michigan’s Vanessa Krause could play spoiler and score some huge points for the Wolverines.

Demler has the top time at 1:55.01, while Krause is just behind at 1:55.99.

Northwestern’s Ally Larson (1:56.32), Michigan’s Olivia Carter (1:56.36) and Nebraska’s Madison Coughlen (1:56.39) are all in the mix.

Another event that could have an under-the-radar affect on the outcome.

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