University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, February 18
Madison, Wis.
10:00 AM/5:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Big Ten Championships
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke/Sprint Freestyle
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Sprint Freestyle
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle/Backstroke/Butterfly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
IM/Butterfly/Breaststroke
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Gold Goes to Bacon, Van Berkom at Big Tens
2/18/2022 9:34:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota senior Sarah Bacon and sophomore Megan Van Berkom truly were "Golden" Gophers Friday night as each won a Big Ten title at the 2022 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships in Madison, Wis.
As a team, Minnesota remained in fifth place with 595.5 points. Ohio State leads the way with 877 points, followed by Michigan (810), Indiana (782) and host-Wisconsin (681). The Golden Gophers hold a 12 point lead over sixth-place Northwestern, while seventh-place Rutgers is 265.5 points back.
"Tonight was the type of session we knew we were capable of," Minnesota head coach Kelly Kremer said. "From start to finish, we had an outstanding night. Hats off to Megan and Sarah on their Big Ten titles. We will challenge ourselves to have two more sessions like tonight's to finish this meet."
Bacon won gold for the second time in as many nights. After winning the 1-meter Thursday, she won in dominant fashion Friday on the 3-meter by breaking her own Big Ten and Minnesota record. Her score of 436.70 took down her mark of 430.60 set when she won the event at the 2019 Big Ten Championships.
The Indianapolis, Ind., native becomes the fifth Gopher to win both the 1-meter and 3-meter at the same Big Ten championship, joining Yu Zhou (2015-2017), Maggie Keefer (2013), Kelci Bryant (2010-11) and T.D. Rowe (1998).
Standing right next to Bacon on the podium was teammate Joy Zhu, who took home silver with a personal best of 369.75.
One night after finishing as runner-up in the 200 IM to Ohio State's Kristen Romano, Van Berkom battled her once again Friday and came away the victor in an automatic qualifying time of 4:03.45. It is the third-fastest time in the country this year based on times entering the championships.
Van Berkom held a lead of 0.45 seconds through the butterfly only to see Romano pull in front after the backstroke and lead by 1.43 seconds at the halfway mark. Van Berkom narrowed the gap to just 0.03 following the breaststroke and then put Romano away by outdueling her in the free by a split of 56.51 to 58.37.
The win by Van Berkom is the first by a Minnesota female swimmer at the Big Tens since Chantal Nack won the 500 free in 2019. Van Berkom is just the sixth Gopher to win a conference title in the event and the first since Brooke Zieger in 2015.
It's the eighth 400 IM title overall for Minnesota along with Zieger, Jenny Shaughnessy (2008-09), Katy Christoferson (1998, 2000), Linda Oegema (1990) and Mana Raikkala (1983).
Minnesota also got a podium trip from its 200 freestyle relay team. Freshman Hannah Cornish, senior Olivia Bloomer and juniors Grace Bennin and Maggie Summit broke the school record they tied last month and claimed third place with a mark of 1:27.92.
That lowered the 'A' cut they had already reached following their time of 1:28.43 at the January tri-dual against Northwestern and Iowa. It was the best finish for Minnesota in the event since also taking third at Big Tens in 2015.
Minnesota closes out the 2022 Big Ten Championships Saturday. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. with the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast and 200 fly on the schedule. Platform diving starts at noon, while the 1650 free event is set to take place at 3:15 p.m. The finals start at 5:30 with the championship heat of the 1650, followed by the aforementioned events and the addition of the 400 free relay.
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As a team, Minnesota remained in fifth place with 595.5 points. Ohio State leads the way with 877 points, followed by Michigan (810), Indiana (782) and host-Wisconsin (681). The Golden Gophers hold a 12 point lead over sixth-place Northwestern, while seventh-place Rutgers is 265.5 points back.
"Tonight was the type of session we knew we were capable of," Minnesota head coach Kelly Kremer said. "From start to finish, we had an outstanding night. Hats off to Megan and Sarah on their Big Ten titles. We will challenge ourselves to have two more sessions like tonight's to finish this meet."
Bacon won gold for the second time in as many nights. After winning the 1-meter Thursday, she won in dominant fashion Friday on the 3-meter by breaking her own Big Ten and Minnesota record. Her score of 436.70 took down her mark of 430.60 set when she won the event at the 2019 Big Ten Championships.
The Indianapolis, Ind., native becomes the fifth Gopher to win both the 1-meter and 3-meter at the same Big Ten championship, joining Yu Zhou (2015-2017), Maggie Keefer (2013), Kelci Bryant (2010-11) and T.D. Rowe (1998).
Standing right next to Bacon on the podium was teammate Joy Zhu, who took home silver with a personal best of 369.75.
One night after finishing as runner-up in the 200 IM to Ohio State's Kristen Romano, Van Berkom battled her once again Friday and came away the victor in an automatic qualifying time of 4:03.45. It is the third-fastest time in the country this year based on times entering the championships.
Van Berkom held a lead of 0.45 seconds through the butterfly only to see Romano pull in front after the backstroke and lead by 1.43 seconds at the halfway mark. Van Berkom narrowed the gap to just 0.03 following the breaststroke and then put Romano away by outdueling her in the free by a split of 56.51 to 58.37.
The win by Van Berkom is the first by a Minnesota female swimmer at the Big Tens since Chantal Nack won the 500 free in 2019. Van Berkom is just the sixth Gopher to win a conference title in the event and the first since Brooke Zieger in 2015.
It's the eighth 400 IM title overall for Minnesota along with Zieger, Jenny Shaughnessy (2008-09), Katy Christoferson (1998, 2000), Linda Oegema (1990) and Mana Raikkala (1983).
Minnesota also got a podium trip from its 200 freestyle relay team. Freshman Hannah Cornish, senior Olivia Bloomer and juniors Grace Bennin and Maggie Summit broke the school record they tied last month and claimed third place with a mark of 1:27.92.
That lowered the 'A' cut they had already reached following their time of 1:28.43 at the January tri-dual against Northwestern and Iowa. It was the best finish for Minnesota in the event since also taking third at Big Tens in 2015.
Minnesota closes out the 2022 Big Ten Championships Saturday. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. with the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast and 200 fly on the schedule. Platform diving starts at noon, while the 1650 free event is set to take place at 3:15 p.m. The finals start at 5:30 with the championship heat of the 1650, followed by the aforementioned events and the addition of the 400 free relay.
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Vivi Del Angel Wins NCAA Bronze
Monday, March 24
Del Angel Earns B1G Platform Diving Silver
Saturday, February 22
Vivi Del Angel Wins NCAA Title
Monday, March 25
Megan Van Berkom Wins 400 IM
Monday, February 26