University of Minnesota Athletics
Steenvoorden, Bryant Defend Big Ten Titles
2/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Minnesota’s Ashley Steenvoorden and Kelci Bryant defended their Big Ten titles in record fashion on Thursday, day two of the 2011 Big Ten Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships in Bloomington, Ind. The Golden Gophers are in second place in the team standings after seven events.
“We had another really good day,” said Minnesota co-head coach Kelly Kremer. “We are performing the way we want with solid efforts across the board. They are a confident group.”
Steenvoorden won the 500-yard freestyle for the second year in a row. The Gopher junior All-American set a new Minnesota record by finishing in a time of 4 minutes, 37.66 seconds, an NCAA “A” qualifier. Steenvoorden aims to win her third consecutive title in the 1,650 free on Saturday.
“It’s great … it doesn’t get any better than this,” Steenvoorden said.
“Ashley swam a great race,” added Kremer. “With about 100 yards to go, she just decided that she wanted to be the Big Ten champion and went after it.”
Bryant is the first Gopher to defend a diving event at the Big Ten Championships. Bryant won the 1-meter springboard crown with a Big Ten Championship meet and Minnesota record score of 370.30 points. She will compete in the 3-meter springboard, the event where she is the reigning Big Ten and NCAA champion, on Friday.
“It’s a good feeling beating my own meet record,” Bryant said. “It also helps the team. The meet is up for grabs right now as far as what team is going to win, so having our freshmen be up there and me be up there it really helps.”
The freshman Bryant refers to is rookie diver Maggie Keefer. Keefer finished fifth in her first Big Ten appearance with a season-best score of 332.00
The Gophers scored 57 points in the 500 free with four other Gophers earning points behind champion Steenvoorden, all of them swimming career-best times in either the prelim or final. Hannah Whitehead finished fifth with a time of 4:43.88, while Ashley’s twin sister Kristen Steenvoorden contributed a seventh-place showing in 4:44.20. In the consolation final, Lauren Weis was 11th in 4:45.95 and Loren Brandon was 12th in 4:46.62.
Minnesota received scoring performances from three swimmers in the 200 individual medley. Haley Spencer finished fourth in a career-best time of 1:58.73, followed by Jillian Tyler in fifth in 1:59.30. Molly Belk tallied a 14th-place finish in the consolation final in an NCAA “B” qualifying and career-best time of 2:01.02.
The Gophers picked up two NCAA “B” qualifiers in the 50 free with Kaylee Jamison finishing sixth in a time of 22.66 seconds and Alison Eggers 11th in 22.92. Minnesota’s 200 free relay also notched an NCAA “B” while placing fifth in a time of 1:30.21. The relay consisted of Jamison, Meagan Radecke, Eggers and Megan Bruan.
Day three of the Big Ten Championships begins with prelims at 10 a.m. (CT).
“We had another really good day,” said Minnesota co-head coach Kelly Kremer. “We are performing the way we want with solid efforts across the board. They are a confident group.”
Steenvoorden won the 500-yard freestyle for the second year in a row. The Gopher junior All-American set a new Minnesota record by finishing in a time of 4 minutes, 37.66 seconds, an NCAA “A” qualifier. Steenvoorden aims to win her third consecutive title in the 1,650 free on Saturday.
“It’s great … it doesn’t get any better than this,” Steenvoorden said.
“Ashley swam a great race,” added Kremer. “With about 100 yards to go, she just decided that she wanted to be the Big Ten champion and went after it.”
Bryant is the first Gopher to defend a diving event at the Big Ten Championships. Bryant won the 1-meter springboard crown with a Big Ten Championship meet and Minnesota record score of 370.30 points. She will compete in the 3-meter springboard, the event where she is the reigning Big Ten and NCAA champion, on Friday.
“It’s a good feeling beating my own meet record,” Bryant said. “It also helps the team. The meet is up for grabs right now as far as what team is going to win, so having our freshmen be up there and me be up there it really helps.”
The freshman Bryant refers to is rookie diver Maggie Keefer. Keefer finished fifth in her first Big Ten appearance with a season-best score of 332.00
The Gophers scored 57 points in the 500 free with four other Gophers earning points behind champion Steenvoorden, all of them swimming career-best times in either the prelim or final. Hannah Whitehead finished fifth with a time of 4:43.88, while Ashley’s twin sister Kristen Steenvoorden contributed a seventh-place showing in 4:44.20. In the consolation final, Lauren Weis was 11th in 4:45.95 and Loren Brandon was 12th in 4:46.62.
Minnesota received scoring performances from three swimmers in the 200 individual medley. Haley Spencer finished fourth in a career-best time of 1:58.73, followed by Jillian Tyler in fifth in 1:59.30. Molly Belk tallied a 14th-place finish in the consolation final in an NCAA “B” qualifying and career-best time of 2:01.02.
The Gophers picked up two NCAA “B” qualifiers in the 50 free with Kaylee Jamison finishing sixth in a time of 22.66 seconds and Alison Eggers 11th in 22.92. Minnesota’s 200 free relay also notched an NCAA “B” while placing fifth in a time of 1:30.21. The relay consisted of Jamison, Meagan Radecke, Eggers and Megan Bruan.
Day three of the Big Ten Championships begins with prelims at 10 a.m. (CT).
Players Mentioned
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Dist Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree
/ Women's Swimming & DivingSpr Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & DivingSprint
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Dist Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
IM
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBreast/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
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