Michigan
Big Ten Championships
MacNeil, Medley Relay Top Podium on Day Two of Big Ten Championships
2/20/2020 10:14:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
» After two days at the Big Ten Championships, Michigan is in second place (478 points). Ohio State leads (561 points).
» Maggie MacNeil won the 50-yard freestyle for the second consecutive year, lowering her school record to 21.30. Daria Pyshnenko finished behind MacNeil and won the silver medal, going 21.82. Those are the two fastest times in school history. MacNeil also set a new school record in the 100-yard backstroke, established on the leadoff leg of the 400-yard medley relay (50.04).
» The foursome of MacNeil, Miranda Tucker, Olivia Carter and Pyshnenko won the 400-yard medley relay, the program's first win in that event at the Big Ten Championships since 2006.
» Michigan had two divers (Allie Klein, Nikki Canale) in the one-meter springboard final for the first time in 13 years. Klein took fourth, while Canale was sixth. In all, five divers combined for 79 points on Thursday.
Site: Iowa City, Iowa (Campus Recreation and Wellness Center)
Event: Big Ten Championships (Day 2 of 4)
U-M Team Standing: 2nd place of 13 Teams (478 points)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Feb. 20 -- at Big Ten Championships - Day 3 (Iowa City, Iowa), 11 a.m./6:30 p.m. CST
• Complete Results (PDF) | Photo Gallery
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Sophomore Maggie MacNeil won the 50-yard freestyle for the second consecutive year, and the 400-yard medley relay claimed its first Big Ten title in 14 years to pace the No. 5-ranked University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team at the Big Ten Championships on Thursday (Feb. 20) at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. After two days, the Wolverines are in second place (478 points), trailing Ohio State (561 points).
Seventeen student-athletes scored points on Thursday (12 swimmers, five divers), ensuring the Wolverines were in a better position in the team standings relative to their spot after this day last year (436.5 points).
"We scored more points today than we did last year and our divers put up more points today than they did the entire meet last year," said head coach Mike Bottom. "We had a pretty good day. We're fighting for a championship and we'll have to keep fighting these next two days."
The Wolverines showcased their speed on Thursday, placing three sprinters in the 50-yard freestyle final. MacNeil led the way, winning the event for the second consecutive year -- the program's first back-to-back winner since Kaitlyn Brady (2005-06) -- while also lowering her previously-held school record to 21.30. Junior Daria Pyshnenko was right behind MacNeil and won the silver medal, clocking the second-fastest time in school history (21.82). Senior Miranda Tucker also was in the final, finishing seventh (22.44). Senior Vanessa Krause held a spot in the consolation finals, taking 14th (22.83).
WATCH: Maggie MacNeil and Daria Pyshnenko finish 1-2 in the 50-yard Freestyle, posting the two fastest times in school history! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/aPvbxdj8Jz
— Michigan Swimming & Diving (@umichswimdive) February 21, 2020
Michigan won the 400-yard medley relay for the first time since 2006, securing its first sweep of both medley relays at the Big Ten Championships since 2000. MacNeil, fresh off winning the 50-yard freestyle earlier, came dangerously close to breaking the 50-second barrier on the leadoff leg but still lowered her school record, going 50.04. Tucker (58.64 on breaststroke), sophomore Olivia Carter (51.10 on butterfly) and Pyshnenko (47.90 on freestyle) brought home the relay, touching collectively at 3:27.68.
The final of the 500-yard freestyle came down to the wire, as the top four finishers fell within three-tenths of a second. Junior Sierra Schmidt picked up a bronze medal (4:37.15), while training partner Kaitlynn Sims was right behind her in fourth (4:37.31). Both swimmers hit personal records and now stand third and fourth, respectively, in school history. Senior Chloe Hicks also set a career best in the consolation final, taking 11th and moving up to No. 9 on the school's all-time list (4:42.29). Sophomore Caroline Sisson (20th, 4:46.10) and junior Kate Krolikowski (23rd, 4:49.80) added points in the bonus final.
Michigan saw two of its divers make the final on the one-meter springboard for the first time in 13 years (2007: Elyse Lee, 2nd; Ellen Van Cleve, 7th). Sophomore Allie Klein took fourth (284.70), while junior Nikki Canale was sixth (266.65). Freshman Lauren Cheetham scored points out of the consolation final in 13th overall (262.65). Freshman Lucy Hogan narrowly missed a spot in the consolation final, finishing 17th (249.45), while junior Camryn McPherson was 19th (247.75). Overall, five of the team's seven divers finished inside the top 20, and combined for 79 points.
Sophomore Victoria Kwan led the Wolverines in the 200-yard IM, making the final and taking eighth (1:57.99). Carter swam the event three times on Thursday -- with a swim-off included -- but saved her best for last, winning the consolation final and placing ninth with the fifth-best time in school history (1:56.51). Junior Emma Cleason also got a second swim, finishing 22nd (2:00.43).
The Big Ten Championships will continue Friday (Feb. 21) at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. The meet will resume with preliminaries at 11 a.m. CST, diving at 1 p.m. CST and event finals at 6:30 p.m. CST.
Career Bests
500 Freestyle -- Sierra Schmidt (4:37.15 -- No. 3 at U-M)
500 Freestyle -- Kaitlynn Sims (4:37.31 -- No. 4 at U-M)
500 Freestyle -- Chloe Hicks (4:42.29 -- No. 9 at U-M)
500 Freestyle -- Caroline Sisson (4:46.10)
500 Freestyle -- Kate Krolikowski (4:47.80)
200 IM -- Victoria Kwan (1:57.58)
50 Freestyle -- Maggie MacNeil (21.30 -- No. 1 at U-M)
50 Freestyle -- Daria Pyshnenko (21.82 -- No. 2 at U-M)
50 Freestyle -- Sophia Kudryashova (23.66)
100 Backstroke -- Maggie MacNeil (50.04 -- No. 1 at U-M)
Results
Team Standings
1. Ohio State 561 2. MICHIGAN 478 3. Indiana 338 4. Wisconsin 257 5. Northwestern 242 6. Minnesota 235 7. Purdue 202 8. Iowa 168 9. Penn State 161 10. Nebraska 158 11. Rutgers 135 12. Michigan State 111 13. Illinois 108
500-yard Freestyle
1. Kathrin Demler, OSU 4:37.04# 3. Sierra Schmidt, U-M 4:37.15# 4. Kaitlynn Sims, U-M 4:37.31# 11. Chloe Hicks, U-M 4:42.29# 20. Caroline Sisson, U-M 4:46.10# 23. Kate Krolikowski, U-M 4:49.80 (4:47.80) 42. Jacqui Schafer, U-M 4:52.86 44. Katii Tang, U-M 4:53.56 49. Madeleine Bauer, U-M 4:55.51 51. Octavia Lau, U-M 4:56.88
200-yard IM
1. Beata Nelson, Wisconsin 1:51.66*%P 8. Victoria Kwan, U-M 1:57.99# (1:57.58#) 9. Olivia Carter, U-M 1:56.51# 22. Emma Cleason, U-M 2:00.43 (2:00.02) 49. Alexis Margett, U-M 2:04.29
50-yard Freestyle
1. Maggie MacNeil, U-M 21.30*M% 2. Daria Pyshnenko, U-M 21.82# 7. Miranda Tucker, U-M 22.44# (22.35#) 14. Vanessa Krause, U-M 22.83 (22.63#) T40. Claire Maiocco, U-M 23.24 61. Sophia Kudryashova, U-M 23.66
One-Meter Diving
1. Mackenzie Crawford, OSU 320.65^ 4. Allie Klein, U-M 284.70^ 6. Nikki Canale, U-M 266.65^ (273.60^) 13. Lauren Cheetham, U-M 262.65 17. Lucy Hogan, U-M 249.45 19. Camryn McPherson, U-M 247.75 39. Paige Sundermann, U-M 218.15 49. Christy Cutshaw, U-M 178.10
400-yard Medley Relay
1. MICHIGAN 3:27.69*P (Maggie MacNeil, Miranda Tucker, Olivia Carter, Daria Pyshnenko)
* NCAA 'A' standard
# NCAA 'B' standard
^ NCAA Zone Diving standard
A American Record
N NCAA Record
B Big Ten Record
% Big Ten Championships Record
M University of Michigan Record
P Pool Record
Players Mentioned
