Michigan
Big Ten Championships
Title Wins from Bi, Haughey Vault U-M Into First at Big Tens
2/15/2018 9:38:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
» The Wolverines began the day tied for 10th, but left the pool in the evening in first place (430 points). At this point last year, Michigan was in third (366 points).
» Siobhán Haughey reclaimed the Big Ten title in the 200-yard IM, resetting her own Big Ten Championships record (1:53.59).
» Yirong Bi captured her first Big Ten individual title, taking the 500-yard freestyle (4:35.09).
» Diver Christy Cutshaw came out of nowhere to take a spot in the one-meter final, finishing seventh (294.60). She blasted her old PR by 33 points.
Site: Columbus, Ohio (McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion)
Event: Big Ten Championships (Day 2 of 4)
U-M Team Standing: 1st of 13 Teams (430 points)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Feb. 16 -- at Big Ten Championships - Day 3 (Columbus, Ohio), 11 a.m./6:30 p.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Juniors Yirong Bi (500-yard freestyle) and Siobhán Haughey (200-yard IM) each won individual titles and the 400-yard medley relay set a new school record to pace the No. 5-ranked University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team during the second day of competition at the Big Ten Championships on Thursday (Feb. 15) at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. The Wolverines started the evening in a tie for 10th, but vaulted all the way to first (430 points) by the end of the night.
Despite last night's disqualification in the opening relay, the Wolverines got right back in the team race thanks to a scorching-fast start in preliminaries. Following the morning, Michigan qualified for 15 finals in swimming and diving events (8 A/6 B/1 C), easily surpassing last year's totals after the second day (5/2/2). The Wolverines ended the session with 430 points, well ahead of their pace from last year when they were third (363 points) after two days.
"There were a lot of exciting swims out there tonight," said head coach Mike Bottom. "Vanessa in the swim-off, that really energized the team. It was a total team swim. Sam dropped quite a bit of time in the 200 IM. Becca went into her swim not thinking of winning, but instead using it to fire up the team. And then Siobhán, for her to do what she did with all the challenges she's faced, was amazing. This entire team really circled the wagons and fought for each other, and we need to keep doing that."
The distance crew got the night started by holding four of the top nine spots. Bi led the entire way, pulling away from the pack at the halfway point and holding off Purdue's Kaersten Meitz for the title (4:35.09). Senior G Ryan, the defending champion, used a strong back half to come back and take third (4:37.37), while freshman Sierra Schmidt, in her Big Ten Championships debut, was fifth (4:38.68). Junior Becca Postoll just missed the final out of prelims, but held her seed as the top swimmer in the consolation, pulling away from the field over the last 200 yards to win and finish ninth overall (4:39.56). Junior Katie Duggan tacked on a few points with a 22nd-place finish (4:48.17).
After getting disqualified in the 200-yard IM last season, Haughey sought redemption and found it, tracking down Wisconsin's Beata Nelson on the freestyle leg to claim the title and lower her previously-held Big Ten Championships record (1:53.59).
WATCH: Siobhán Haughey chases down Wisconsin's Beata Nelson to win the 200-yard IM and re-set her previously-held Big Ten Championships record (1:53.59). #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/jzsqybg0s6
— Michigan Swimming & Diving (@umichswimdive) February 16, 2018
Three years after winning this event as a freshman in the same pool, senior Clara Smiddy flirted with the NCAA "A" cut, taking third (1:55.35), the second-fastest time in school history. Sophomore Miranda Tucker joined Haughey and Smiddy in the final, taking eighth (1:57.06). Though not a career best, her preliminaries time of 1:56.97 is fifth-fastest in school history. Senior Samantha Yeo and freshman Emma Cleason added more points in the consolation final, taking ninth (1:57.30) and 13th (1:57.81), respectively.
Junior Catie DeLoof ascended the record book in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing fourth (22.16). Her time is second-fastest in school history, trailing only her old sister, alum and U.S. National Teamer Ali DeLoof (21.99). Freshman Daria Pyshnenko climbed to take 10th (22.39), while sophomore Vanessa Krause, who won a swim-off earlier in the day to get into the consolation final, was 16th (22.91).
Michigan also got key points from diving, spearheaded by freshman Christy Cutshaw. Known more to be platform specialist, Cutshaw blew away her previous PR by more than 30 points, qualifying for the final and finishing seventh (294.60). Classmate Nikki Canale just missed out on joining her, taking ninth in preliminaries and 14th overall (282.60).
The team ended the night on a high note, setting a new school record in the 400-yard medley relay. The foursome of Smiddy, Tucker, Krause and senior Gabby DeLoof -- who out-split the field on the freestyle leg (47.29) -- took third (3:29.90).
The Wolverines look to keep climbing up the standings as the Big Ten Championships enter its third day, tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 16) in Columbus, Ohio. Preliminaries begin at 11 a.m., with finals following at 6:30 p.m.
TEAM STANDINGS (After Day 2)
1. MICHIGAN 430 2. Indiana 396 3. Ohio State 370 4. Minnesota 355 5. Wisconsin 298 6. Purdue 256 7. Northwestern 184 8. Penn State 168 9. Iowa 158 10. Rutgers 150 11. Nebraska 143 12. Michigan State 103 13. Illinois 89
500-yard Freestyle
1. Yirong Bi, U-M 4:35.09* 3. G Ryan, U-M 4:37.37# 5. Sierra Schmidt, U-M 4:38.68# (4:38.03#) 9. Becca Postoll, U-M 4:39.56# 22. Katie Duggan, U-M 4:48.17 (4:46.75#) 25. Jacqui Schafer, U-M 4:47.81
200-yard IM
1. Siobhán Haughey, U-M 1:53.59*! 3. Clara Smiddy, U-M 1:55.35# 8. Miranda Tucker, U-M 1:57.06# (1:56.97#) 9. Samantha Yeo, U-M 1:57.30# 13. Emma Cleason, U-M 1:57.81# 32. Kate Krolikowski, U-M 2:00.72# 35. Carolyn McCann, U-M 2:01.02# 37. Emily Kopas, U-M 2:01.37# 44. Alex Hughes, U-M 2:02.37 45. Alexis Margett, U-M 2:02.48
50-yard Freestyle
1. Liz Li, Ohio State 21.28*^B! 4. Catie DeLoof, U-M 22.16# 10. Daria Pyshnenko, U-M 22.39# 16. Vanessa Krause, U-M 22.91# (22.84#/22.41s#) 37. Claire Maiocco, U-M 23.23 66. Annalisa Perez, U-M 23.82
One-Meter Diving
1. Sarah Bacon, Minnesota 353.80^ 7. Christy Cutshaw, U-M 294.60^ 14. Nikki Canale, U-M 282.60^ (283.25^) 41. Dani VanderZwaag, U-M 214.45
400-yard Medley Relay
1. Indiana 3:27.81*^B! (Ali Rockett, Lilly King Christine Jensen, Grace Haskett) 3. Michigan 3:29.90*M (Clara Smiddy, Miranda Tucker, Vanessa Krause, Gabby DeLoof) s Swim-Off * NCAA A # NCAA B & NCAA Zone Diving cut ^ Pool Record M School Record B Big Ten Record ! Big Ten Championships Record
Career-Best Times/Scores
500 Freestyle -- Sierra Schmidt (4:38.03 -- 3rd at U-M)
500 Freestyle -- Katie Duggan (4:46.75)
200 IM -- Clara Smiddy (1:55.35 -- 2nd at U-M)
200 IM -- Samantha Yeo (1:57.30 -- 6th at U-M)
200 IM -- Emma Cleason (1:57.80 -- 8th at U-M
200 IM -- Kate Krolikowski (2:00.72)
200 IM -- Alex Hughes (2:02.37)
200 IM -- Alexis Margett (2:02.48)
50 Freestyle -- Catie DeLoof (22.16 -- 2nd at U-M)
50 Freestyle -- Daria Pyshnenko (22.39 -- 6th at U-M)
50 Freestyle -- Vanessa Krause (22.41 -- 7th at U-M)
50 Freestyle -- Claire Maiocco (23.23)
50 Freestyle -- Annalisa Perez (23.82)
1M -- Christy Cutshaw (294.60)
Players Mentioned
