Photo Credit: Griffin Scott<\/p>\n
COLUMBUS – Kentucky’s Christina Bechtel swam under the NCAA A cut and set a new meet record in the 100 fly to highlight the second day of racing at the Ohio State Invitational.<\/p>\n
Bechtel touched in 51.11 to dip under the automatic NCAA qualifying time of 51.70 and lower Ellese Zalewski’s meet record of 51.13 from last year. Later in the meet, she led Kentucky’s 800 free relay to an A cut time of 7:06.84 and victory in that event as well.<\/p>\n
The Purdue women and Ohio State men lead the team standings heading into the final day of racing tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Following two days of action at the ninth-annual Ohio State Swimming and Diving Invitational, the Buckeyes stand fourth with a team score 413.5 points. Purdue holds a strong lead with 762 points, while Kentucky (616) and Wisconsin (498) follow in second and third, respectively. Competition will resume at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Sunday with prelims scheduled for 9 a.m. and finals slated for 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought we had two good sessions today,\u201d head swimming coach Bill Dorenkott said. \u201cOur consistency between prelims and finals has been very strong, as well as our race to race consistency. We set a lot of season-best times today, which is a good sign moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohio State\u2019s 200 medley relay of Camey Rabold, Ashley Vance, Annelise Sprau and Rachael Dzierzak started the evening off with a sixth-place showing. The contingent earned 26 points for the Scarlet and Gray with a time of 1:42.88.<\/p>\n
Sophomore Lindsey Clary picked up an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 400 individual medley. Her season-best time of 4:17.86 ranked fifth among competitors, while fellow Buckeye Annie Gillig took ninth in 4:20.72.<\/p>\n
In the 100 butterfly, Vance touched in a season-best 55.82 for a 12th-place finish. Sophomore Kaitlyn followed it up by posting Ohio State\u2019s top time in the 200 freestyle for 14th (1:51.82).<\/p>\n
The Buckeyes qualified two swimmers for the championship final of the 100 backstroke. Rabold claimed third with a time of 55.76, while Gillig earned fourth in 56.25. Sophomores Amy Bopp and Maren Reeder represented the squad with fifth- and seventh-place finishes in the 100 breaststroke, respectively. Bopp\u2019s time of 1:04.27 in the event was her fastest recorded this season.<\/p>\n
In diving action, freshman Brittney Menninger earned a final score of 258.70 on the 1-meter apparatus.<\/p>\n
Ohio State rounded out the evening with seventh-place standing in the 800 freestyle relay. The grouping of Zhesi Li, Rabold, Kathleen Cook and Vance posted a season-best time of 7:30.66 in the event, contributing 24 points toward the team total.<\/p>\n
The Ohio State men\u2019s swimming and diving team put together another impressive showing Saturday at the ninth-annual Ohio State Invitational, posting a team score of 1068.5 after two days of competition. Wisconsin holds onto the runner-up spot in the team standings, trailing the Buckeyes by 491 points. Competition will resume at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Sunday with prelims scheduled for 9 a.m. and finals slated for 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing I\u2019m most proud of is our teamwork,\u201d head swimming coach Bill Wadley said. \u201cOur teamwork was excellent both tonight and last night. Obviously you always want to swim faster, but we have been swimming well. The guys have really given a good effort. However, the best part has been the teamwork.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohio State opened the evening with a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay. The grouping of Steven Zimmerman, DJ MacDonald, Matt McHugh and Josh Fleagle posted a time of 1:26.77, earning 40 points toward the Scarlet and Gray total. The Buckeyes also took third in the event, picking up another 32 points.<\/p>\n
Moving on to the 400 individual medley, Dimitry Dolgov dropped an NCAA \u2018B\u2019 cut time of 3:51.32 for the runner-up spot. Buckeye Jovan Mitrovic also earned an NCAA provisional qualifying time with a 3:51.32 for third in the event. McHugh followed it up with a victory in the 100 butterfly. His time of 47.71 added yet another NCAA \u2018B\u2019 time for the Scarlet and Gray.<\/p>\n
Ohio State dominated in the 200 freestyle, claiming the top-four spots. Senior Michael DiSalle earned the win with a time of 1:35.37, while Fleagle (1:35.52), Steffen Hillmer (1:36.93) and Rowan Williams (1:36.99) followed in second through fourth. Each time recorded was an NCAA \u2018B\u2019 qualifier.<\/p>\n
In the 100 breaststroke, the Buckeyes continued to roll with eight swimmers in the championship final. MacDonald led the pack in 53.82 for the win, while rookie Jack Barone took third in 54.27. Once again, both were NCAA provisional qualifying marks.<\/p>\n
McHugh brought home the 100 backstroke with an NCAA \u2018B\u2019 time of 47.44, while Zimmerman followed closely in second in a time of 47.55. The win was McHugh\u2019s second individual victory of the evening.<\/p>\n