University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Send 18 to Tonight's Finals
2/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
The No. 10 University of Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team held the top times in three of five preliminaries as the Golden Gophers send 18 to tonight’s finals. Competing in multiple individual events tonight is Kaylee Jamison (400 IM, 100 fly) and Danielle Ridder (100 fly, 100 back).
Jenny Shaughnessy won the 400 individual medley with a Big Ten, school-record and automatic qualifying time of 4:07.11. An event she won last year as a junior, Shaughnessy will hold the fastest time heading into tonight’s finals. Following closely behind her is Indiana’s Allison Kay (4:07.52) and Penn State’s Kaitlin O’Brien (4:08.83). Also racing in tonight’s final is Kait Strickland, who finished the prelims with a time of 4:14.25 and eighth overall. Kristen Steenvoorden will compete in tonight’s 400 IM consolation final after clocking a career-best time of 4:15.30.
The Gophers will have another two swimmers in the 100 fly in sophomores Megan Braun and Kaylee Jamison. Braun held the fourth-fastest time in the prelims when she broke her own school record and set a new one in 53.22. Jamison followed in seventh overall when she posted a personal-best 53.80. Minnesota added another three in the consolation finals. Danielle Ridder held a career-best time of 53.94 and finished 10th overall, followed by Jenna Lennertz in 11th (54.04) and Kelsey Ridder in 16th (54.53).
Meredith McCarthy touched the wall in 1:46.04 to come out of the 200 free with the best time. Penn State’s Kelly Nelson held the second-fastest time in 1:46.16. Also making the A Final was Stacy Busack with a time of 1:46.66. The Maroon and Gold will also have four in the consolation finals in Marissa Davies, Yuen Kobayashi and Christine Jennings. Davies held a career-best 1:47.34 and finished ninth, followed by Kobayashi (1:47.51) and Jennings (1:47.66).
Jillian Tyler will look to defend her Big Ten Championship 100 breast title tonight. Tyler chipped in a time of 59.25, which set a Big Ten record. Her previous best time of 58.80 and now 59.25 were both NCAA qualifying times. Kaylee Jamison will represent Minnesota on the consolation final when she finished in a career-best time of 1:02.94 and 15th overall. Just missing the B Final was Kim Kazika, who finished in 1:03.71.
Hannah Whitehead will compete in tonight’s 100 back final, while Castina Wabeke and Danielle Ridder will race in the 100 back consolation final. Whitehead shaved off nearly three seconds off her personal-best time when she had a prelim time of 53.90. Wabeke added a prelim time of 54.39 for 10th overall, while Danielle Ridder set another personal-best time in 55.02.
Along with the individual events, Minnesota will compete in the 400 medley relay. Minnesota holds the fastest time entering the event in 3:35.25, while Wisconsin is second in 3:36.04. Finals begin tonight at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
Jenny Shaughnessy won the 400 individual medley with a Big Ten, school-record and automatic qualifying time of 4:07.11. An event she won last year as a junior, Shaughnessy will hold the fastest time heading into tonight’s finals. Following closely behind her is Indiana’s Allison Kay (4:07.52) and Penn State’s Kaitlin O’Brien (4:08.83). Also racing in tonight’s final is Kait Strickland, who finished the prelims with a time of 4:14.25 and eighth overall. Kristen Steenvoorden will compete in tonight’s 400 IM consolation final after clocking a career-best time of 4:15.30.
The Gophers will have another two swimmers in the 100 fly in sophomores Megan Braun and Kaylee Jamison. Braun held the fourth-fastest time in the prelims when she broke her own school record and set a new one in 53.22. Jamison followed in seventh overall when she posted a personal-best 53.80. Minnesota added another three in the consolation finals. Danielle Ridder held a career-best time of 53.94 and finished 10th overall, followed by Jenna Lennertz in 11th (54.04) and Kelsey Ridder in 16th (54.53).
Meredith McCarthy touched the wall in 1:46.04 to come out of the 200 free with the best time. Penn State’s Kelly Nelson held the second-fastest time in 1:46.16. Also making the A Final was Stacy Busack with a time of 1:46.66. The Maroon and Gold will also have four in the consolation finals in Marissa Davies, Yuen Kobayashi and Christine Jennings. Davies held a career-best 1:47.34 and finished ninth, followed by Kobayashi (1:47.51) and Jennings (1:47.66).
Jillian Tyler will look to defend her Big Ten Championship 100 breast title tonight. Tyler chipped in a time of 59.25, which set a Big Ten record. Her previous best time of 58.80 and now 59.25 were both NCAA qualifying times. Kaylee Jamison will represent Minnesota on the consolation final when she finished in a career-best time of 1:02.94 and 15th overall. Just missing the B Final was Kim Kazika, who finished in 1:03.71.
Hannah Whitehead will compete in tonight’s 100 back final, while Castina Wabeke and Danielle Ridder will race in the 100 back consolation final. Whitehead shaved off nearly three seconds off her personal-best time when she had a prelim time of 53.90. Wabeke added a prelim time of 54.39 for 10th overall, while Danielle Ridder set another personal-best time in 55.02.
Along with the individual events, Minnesota will compete in the 400 medley relay. Minnesota holds the fastest time entering the event in 3:35.25, while Wisconsin is second in 3:36.04. Finals begin tonight at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
Players Mentioned
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & DivingSpr Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingDist Free
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBreast/IM
/ Women's Swimming & DivingDist Free
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree
/ Women's Swimming & DivingIM Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree Fly IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
IM
/ Women's Swimming & DivingIM Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBreast/IM
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBack
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
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