University of Minnesota Athletics
Tyler Swims to Historical Fourth Straight Big Ten Title
2/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Minnesota senior Jillian Tyler won her fourth Big Ten title in the 100-yard breaststroke to become the first Golden Gopher and 12th swimmer in Conference history to sweep an event over a collegiate career. Tyler accomplished the feat in record time as well, bettering her own Gopher record with a clocking of 58.08 seconds, the fastest collegiate time in the nation this season.
“I’m really happy I won it,” Tyler said. “Coming into this meet I was focused on NCAA’s and putting together a great race strategy and I think I did that, so I’m excited.”
Junior Kelci Bryant added her second Big Ten title of the meet as well as her second school record. Bryant defended her 3-meter springboard diving crown by scoring 421.70 points, bettering her previous record of 415.50 when she won the NCAA title a year ago.
“It feels pretty good,” Bryant said. “So far I’m undefeated in my Big Ten career which is really exciting, so I’ll work harder and hopefully do it again next year.”
Indiana has built a commanding lead in the team race with 551 points heading into the final day of the Championships on Saturday. Minnesota has a firm grasp on second place with 395 points, followed by Ohio State with 302 and Penn State with 275.
The Gophers may be a runner-up position in the Big Ten standings, but the coaches are thrilled with the performance of the team. “The Gophers were golden tonight,” said Minnesota co-head coach Terry Nieszner. “We can’t wait to get to NCAAs and compete at the next level.”
Senior Kaylee Jamison added the third school record of the evening swimming to a third-place finish in the 100 butterfly in a time of 52.95 seconds. Jamison first broke the mark in the prelims with a time of 53.06 before clocking her first sub-53 second race of her career.
Tyler and Jamison were also part of the Gophers’ 400 medley relay that placed second with a time of 3:33.69, a season-best time by nearly five seconds. Other members of the relay with an improved NCAA “B” qualifying time were leadoff swimmer Hannah Whitehead and anchor Alison Eggers.
In addition to swimming on the relay, Whitehead also competed in the championship final of 100 backstroke, placing seventh with a time of 54.11. In prelims, she recorded a season-best and NCAA “B” qualifying time of 53.65. Tess Behrens also swam an NCAA “B” time in winning the consolation final in a time of 53.75.
Minnesota picked up several team points in other various consolation finals. Scoring for the Gophers in the consolation final of the 400 individual medley were Kristen Steenvoorden in 12th place in 4:16.46 and Hailey Szews in 13th in 4:17.76. Megan Braun finished 14th in the 100 fly in 54.86, while Molly Belk was 15th in the 100 breast in 1:02.30. In the 200, Weis finished 11th in 1:47.63 and Ashley Steenvoorden was 15th in 1:48.29. In 3-meter diving, Maggie Keefer was 10th with a score of 339.70, while Katie Grunawalt was 14th with a score of 315.50.
The fourth and final day of the Big Ten Championship begins on Saturday at 10 a.m. CT.
“I’m really happy I won it,” Tyler said. “Coming into this meet I was focused on NCAA’s and putting together a great race strategy and I think I did that, so I’m excited.”
Junior Kelci Bryant added her second Big Ten title of the meet as well as her second school record. Bryant defended her 3-meter springboard diving crown by scoring 421.70 points, bettering her previous record of 415.50 when she won the NCAA title a year ago.
“It feels pretty good,” Bryant said. “So far I’m undefeated in my Big Ten career which is really exciting, so I’ll work harder and hopefully do it again next year.”
Indiana has built a commanding lead in the team race with 551 points heading into the final day of the Championships on Saturday. Minnesota has a firm grasp on second place with 395 points, followed by Ohio State with 302 and Penn State with 275.
The Gophers may be a runner-up position in the Big Ten standings, but the coaches are thrilled with the performance of the team. “The Gophers were golden tonight,” said Minnesota co-head coach Terry Nieszner. “We can’t wait to get to NCAAs and compete at the next level.”
Senior Kaylee Jamison added the third school record of the evening swimming to a third-place finish in the 100 butterfly in a time of 52.95 seconds. Jamison first broke the mark in the prelims with a time of 53.06 before clocking her first sub-53 second race of her career.
Tyler and Jamison were also part of the Gophers’ 400 medley relay that placed second with a time of 3:33.69, a season-best time by nearly five seconds. Other members of the relay with an improved NCAA “B” qualifying time were leadoff swimmer Hannah Whitehead and anchor Alison Eggers.
In addition to swimming on the relay, Whitehead also competed in the championship final of 100 backstroke, placing seventh with a time of 54.11. In prelims, she recorded a season-best and NCAA “B” qualifying time of 53.65. Tess Behrens also swam an NCAA “B” time in winning the consolation final in a time of 53.75.
Minnesota picked up several team points in other various consolation finals. Scoring for the Gophers in the consolation final of the 400 individual medley were Kristen Steenvoorden in 12th place in 4:16.46 and Hailey Szews in 13th in 4:17.76. Megan Braun finished 14th in the 100 fly in 54.86, while Molly Belk was 15th in the 100 breast in 1:02.30. In the 200, Weis finished 11th in 1:47.63 and Ashley Steenvoorden was 15th in 1:48.29. In 3-meter diving, Maggie Keefer was 10th with a score of 339.70, while Katie Grunawalt was 14th with a score of 315.50.
The fourth and final day of the Big Ten Championship begins on Saturday at 10 a.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
Free/Back
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & DivingFree
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & DivingSpr Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Dist Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
IM/B
/ Women's Swimming & DivingBreast/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
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