University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Complete Sound Wins Over Wisconsin, Purdue and Illinois
1/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
The 10th-ranked Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team improved to 8-0 with victories over Purdue, No. 16 Wisconsin and Illinois this weekend at the Big Ten Quad Duals at University Aquatic Center. Individual wins by Ashley Steenvoorden, Jenny Shaughnessy, Meredith McCarthy and Kaylee Jamison led Minnesota this afternoon.
The Gophers defeated Illinois 232-110, Purdue 222-121 and Wisconsin 191-160.
Wisconsin took the opening event of the day, scoring a close win over Minnesota with a time of 1:41.30. Minnesota’s unit of Jenna Lennertz, Jillian Tyler, Kaylee Jamison and Stacy Busack clocked a second place time of 1:41.60 and Purdue was third.
The Gophers continued to dominate the distance free events. After finishing 1-2-3-4 in the 500 free last night, Minnesota repeated the feat in the 1000 free. Ashley Steenvoorden took first in a time of 9:52.66 while Yuen Kobayashi was second in 9:57.39. Kristen Steenvoorden took third in 9:58.57 and Christine Jennings was fourth in 10:03.50.
In the 50 freestyle, Wisconsin’s Beckie Thompson took first in 23.01 but the Gophers still managed to place 2-3-4. Stacy Busack was second in 23.21 and Kaylee Jamison was third in 23.45 after winning the second of three heats. Meredith McCarthy came in fourth in 23.66.
The Badgers made it two straight, as Maggie Meyer captured the 100 backstroke in a time of 54.77. Candice Peak made it a 1-2 finish for Wisconsin in 55.46 while Hannah Whitehead was the Gophers’ best finisher in fourth with a time of 56.91.
A thrilling battle in the 200 breaststroke between Minnesota’s Jillian Tyler and Wisconsin’s Ashley Wanland got the large crowd going at University Aquatic Center. Wanland broke away in the final 25 yards to score an upset win in 2:12.93. Tyler touched in 2:13.52. The rest of the pack was far behind. Illinois’ Marissa Clapp was third in 2:17.59 and Kim Kazika was fourth for Minnesota in 2:20.53. Although Minnesota held large leads over Purdue and Illinois, Wisconsin pulled ahead of the Gophers 139-138 after the 200 breast, setting a dramatic finish in their dual.
In another tight and exciting race, Jamison pulled out a win in the 100 butterfly in 54.68 and Megan Braun was second in 55.77. After little rest, Illescas turned in a third place swim in 56.10 for Wisconsin. Minnesota surged back ahead of Wisconsin by six points with the score at 151-145.
The Gophers posted another win in the 200 freestyle with Meredith McCarthy hitting the wall first in 1:49.72. Pulling a rare third consecutive race, Illescas was second in 1:50.15 and Kobayashi was third in 1:50.36. Jennings also managed a fourth place finish in 1:51.31 and Marissa Davies was fifth for the Gophers in 1:51.52. The Gophers established a 165-150 lead over the Badgers following the event.
Minnesota also received a boost from Taylor Enerson, who took second place on the platform with a score of 220.45. Purdue’s Casey Matthews took first with a score of 250.50.
Jenny Shaughnessy cruised to a win in the 400 individual medley by over two and a half seconds with a time of 4:21.04. Illinois’ Marissa Clapp was second in 4:23.75 and Kait Strickland took third in 4:24.31. Kristen Steenvoorden also placed fifth for the Gophers in 4:27.63. Shaughnessy's win clinched the meet over Wisconsin.
In the final event of the two-day meet, Wisconsin and Minnesota staged a thrilling battle in the 400 freestyle relay. After several lead changes, the race came down to the final lap between Wisconsin’s Jen Illesces and Minnesota’s Alison Eggers. At the end, Eggers had the kick and gave the Gophers first in 3:22.18.
Minnesota will compete in its final tuneup for the Big Ten Championships next weekend with the Minnesota Challenge at University Aquatic Center.
Players Mentioned
