University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, December 4
Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center
10:00 AM (Prelims), 6:00 PM (Finals)
University of Minnesota
vs
Minnesota Invitational
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Sprint Freestyle
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle/Backstroke/Butterfly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Backstroke
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke/Butterfly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Butterfly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Butterfly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle/Backstroke/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke/Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle/Butterfly/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Distance Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Sprint Freestyle
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Sprint Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
IM/Butterfly/Breaststroke
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Photo by: Craig Lassig
Standout Performances Bring Minnesota Invite to a Conclusion
12/4/2021 10:41:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS – A school record and an automatic trip to the NCAA championships capped off the final day of the 2021 Minnesota Invite Saturday for the University of Minnesota swimming and diving programs.
Sophomore Megan Van Berkom broke the school record in the 200 butterfly, her second program mark in three days, while senior Max McHugh posted an 'A' cut in the 200 breaststroke, capping off a day where Minnesota earned 14 'B' cuts and set 29 personal records.
Van Berkom, who broke the 200 IM school mark on Thursday, swam the 200 fly in a time of 1:54.15. That broke the mark of 1:54.72 set by Danielle Nack at the 2018 Big Ten Championships.
"Tonight I just tried to focus on the things I could control," Van Berkom said. "Everyone's tired, it's the last session of a long meet, so walls and underwaters, start, all of the things I knew I could control and make better than this morning.
"I felt very satisfied with it. I gave it all I could at the end, and again I could hear my teammates cheering so I just knew. I felt relieved that all the hard work that myself and my teammates had been putting in is starting to show."
The highlight for the men's team was McHugh's automatic qualifying mark in the 200 breast, one of two events where he is the defending national champion. Facing a loaded field, he touched the wall in 1:51.27, the third fastest time in the country this year. Saturday's performance comes on the heels of also earning an 'A' cut in the 100 breast at the Invite, earning himself a chance to defend his title in that event, as well.
The Minnesota divers, meanwhile, competed on the platform for the first time this year. After Sarah Bacon claimed both the 1- and 3-meters the last two nights, it was senior Joy Zhu won completed the hat trick for the Gophers Saturday with a score of 266.85. On the men's side, sophomore Matthew Mitchell was the top finisher, taking third following a 296.75.
Freshman Hannah Cornish continued her strong Invite with three 'B' cuts alone in the 100 free, one in prelims, one in the finals (season-best 48.96) and one as the leadoff leg of the 400 free relay. She also notched a 'B' cut in the 50 free as part of a time trial in the 200 free relay.
Junior Maggie Summit also found success in the 100 free with a 'B' cut of her own at 49.44, while seniors Olivia Bloomer and Emma Linscott, junior Jordan McGinty, sophomores Maeve O'Driscoll and Katia Soudakova, and freshman Lyndsey Wehr all set personal bests in the event.
Additionally, multiple 'B' cuts were recorded in the 200 breast by junior Emma Lezer (2:13.57) and sophomore Molly Urkiel (2:12.65).
The 1650 free was held for the first time in competition for the Gophers this year and three 'B' cuts were set. Senior Abbey Kilgallon touched in 16:23.62 for the women, while sophomore Chris Nagy (15:06.03) and freshman Bar Soloveychik (15:00.23) reach the provisional mark on the men's side. For Soloveychik, it was his first time competing in the event in his career.
Linscott (200 fly), senior Kelli McCarthy (200 fly) and sophomores Holley Dennis (200 breast) and Elle Niebuhr (1650 free) also tallied personal bests on the day, while the men saw personal records set by juniors Sam Kennedy (200 back) and Shane Rozeboom (100 free), and freshmen Tommy McCarthy (200 back and 200 fly) and Chris Morris (100 free).
Both programs are now off from competition for over a month, returning to the pool Jan. 9 for a dual meet at UC San Diego.
Sophomore Megan Van Berkom broke the school record in the 200 butterfly, her second program mark in three days, while senior Max McHugh posted an 'A' cut in the 200 breaststroke, capping off a day where Minnesota earned 14 'B' cuts and set 29 personal records.
Van Berkom, who broke the 200 IM school mark on Thursday, swam the 200 fly in a time of 1:54.15. That broke the mark of 1:54.72 set by Danielle Nack at the 2018 Big Ten Championships.
"Tonight I just tried to focus on the things I could control," Van Berkom said. "Everyone's tired, it's the last session of a long meet, so walls and underwaters, start, all of the things I knew I could control and make better than this morning.
"I felt very satisfied with it. I gave it all I could at the end, and again I could hear my teammates cheering so I just knew. I felt relieved that all the hard work that myself and my teammates had been putting in is starting to show."
The highlight for the men's team was McHugh's automatic qualifying mark in the 200 breast, one of two events where he is the defending national champion. Facing a loaded field, he touched the wall in 1:51.27, the third fastest time in the country this year. Saturday's performance comes on the heels of also earning an 'A' cut in the 100 breast at the Invite, earning himself a chance to defend his title in that event, as well.
The Minnesota divers, meanwhile, competed on the platform for the first time this year. After Sarah Bacon claimed both the 1- and 3-meters the last two nights, it was senior Joy Zhu won completed the hat trick for the Gophers Saturday with a score of 266.85. On the men's side, sophomore Matthew Mitchell was the top finisher, taking third following a 296.75.
Freshman Hannah Cornish continued her strong Invite with three 'B' cuts alone in the 100 free, one in prelims, one in the finals (season-best 48.96) and one as the leadoff leg of the 400 free relay. She also notched a 'B' cut in the 50 free as part of a time trial in the 200 free relay.
Junior Maggie Summit also found success in the 100 free with a 'B' cut of her own at 49.44, while seniors Olivia Bloomer and Emma Linscott, junior Jordan McGinty, sophomores Maeve O'Driscoll and Katia Soudakova, and freshman Lyndsey Wehr all set personal bests in the event.
Additionally, multiple 'B' cuts were recorded in the 200 breast by junior Emma Lezer (2:13.57) and sophomore Molly Urkiel (2:12.65).
The 1650 free was held for the first time in competition for the Gophers this year and three 'B' cuts were set. Senior Abbey Kilgallon touched in 16:23.62 for the women, while sophomore Chris Nagy (15:06.03) and freshman Bar Soloveychik (15:00.23) reach the provisional mark on the men's side. For Soloveychik, it was his first time competing in the event in his career.
Linscott (200 fly), senior Kelli McCarthy (200 fly) and sophomores Holley Dennis (200 breast) and Elle Niebuhr (1650 free) also tallied personal bests on the day, while the men saw personal records set by juniors Sam Kennedy (200 back) and Shane Rozeboom (100 free), and freshmen Tommy McCarthy (200 back and 200 fly) and Chris Morris (100 free).
Both programs are now off from competition for over a month, returning to the pool Jan. 9 for a dual meet at UC San Diego.
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