University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Minnesota Challenge
Gophers Post Strong Finish at MN Challenge
2/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The 2015 Minnesota Challenge concluded this evening at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center. The meet served as a platform for individuals not moving on to the Big Ten Championships to see their progress throughout the season, and the Gophers showed great depth.
In similar fashion to this morning's diving events, the Gophers continued their reign over the Minnesota Challenge in the women's three-meter and men's one-meter events. Yu Zhou totaled 365.10 points for first place on the three-meter boards, picking up her second win of the day. Lexi Tenenbaum followed for second place with 340.15 points, and teammates Katy Etterman (314.05) and Jessica Ramberg (309.50) rounded out the top four. Freshman Elizabeth Etterman finished with 224.75 points for twelfth place.
On the men's one-meter boards, Dylan Zoe racked up 371.10 points for first. Junior Manny Pollard placed second with a total of 368.90 points and Matt Barnard (357.80) and Erik Larsen (340.25) picked up third and fourth respectively. Gophers Nick Rodriguez (332.05) and Daniel Monaghan (295.90) finished sixth and seventh.
In the women's 1650 freestyle, freshman Brooke Zeiger finished first with a time of 16:52.79.
Senior Garin Marlow placed second in the men's 1650 freestyle, finishing with a time of 15:38.65.
Minnesota's sole entry in the 200 backstroke was Jimmy Rafter, who finished 22nd with a time of 2:08.94. Gopher teammates were cheering his name loudly as the senior used the race to get a 100-yard split, giving it his all in the first half of the race, and finishing with a 49.96.
Sophomore Ellen Bloom finished first in the women's 100 freestyle, finishing with a time of 51.99. Freshman Mckenna Lynch followed for second with a 53.05.
Gophers claimed the top four spots in the men's 100 free. Noah Busch finished first with a time of 44.92. Freshmen Jan Hansen (45.53) and Chase Bublitz (45.57) followed for second and third. Niklas Brinck placed fourth with a time of 45.87. Senior Corey Mills finished 14th with a 48.48 and Bryce Boston used the event to swim a 100 butterfly finishing with a time of 49.83.
Freshmen Theresa Bushman and Aislin Rose competed for Minnesota in the women's 200 breaststroke. Bushman finished second with a time of 2:24.91, while Rose picked up seventh with a 2:29.84.
In the men's 200 breaststroke, senior David Friesch had a first-place finish with a time of 2:04.14 in the event. Garrett Larson (2:05.15) and Chase Vennefron (2:07.47) placed second and third respectively.
Gophers Viktor Bjoerk, Connor Croan and RJ Leiferman battled it out in the men's 200 butterfly to close out the Minnesota Challenge. Bjoerk placed first with a 1:48.24. Freshman Croan followed for second with a time of 1:51.97, and Leiferman placed fourth with a time of 1:56.38.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Championships season is upon us. The Gophers are gearing up for their respective Big Ten Championships later this month. The Minnesota women will compete at Ohio State as they go for their fourth-straight B1G title February 18-21. The Gopher men will then head to Iowa for Big Tens from February 25-28. More information to follow.
Players Mentioned
