2017 Women's Big Ten Championships

Big Ten Finals Day 1: Lilly King Blazes 50 Breast, Relay Records Broken

Big Ten Finals Day 1: Lilly King Blazes 50 Breast, Relay Records Broken

Night one of the 2017 Women's Big Ten Championships saw Lilly King of Indiana drop the fastest 50-yard breaststroke split in history and Minnesota, Michigan break meet records.

Feb 16, 2017 by Maclin Simpson
Big Ten Finals Day 1: Lilly King Blazes 50 Breast, Relay Records Broken

200 Medley Relay


B1G Conference Record: ​ 1:35.71 (Wisconsin, 2011) 1:35.55 (Minnesota, 2017)
B1G Meet Record: 1:36.29 (Wisconsin, 2009) 1:35.55 (Minnesota, 2017)
Pool Record: ​ 1:35.75 (Arizona, 2010) 1:35.55 (Minnesota, 2017)
NCAA 'A' Qualifying: 1:37.21

The Minnesota Gophers started off the Big Ten Championship meet on Wednesday with a first-place finish, a new conference meet record, AND pool record in the 200 medley relay at Purdue's Boilermaker Aquatic Center in West Lafayette, Indiana. Though it seemed Lilly King put Indiana out of reach early on in the race with the fastest breaststroke split in history, the Minnesota women battled back after being over half a body length behind. They took the win with a 1:35.55, over two seconds under their seed time, which was enough to out-touch the Hoosiers, who finished second with a 1:35.74. Wisconsin, which previously held the Big Ten record in this event, claimed third place with a 1:36.41.

After losing the Big Ten Championship meet last year for the first time since 2011, it is clear the Gophers have returned with a fierce determination to win back the title.

Full Results

1.) Minnesota: 1:35.55 (B10 & POOL RECORD)
2.) Indiana: 1:35.74 (NCAA 'A')
3.) Wisconsin: 1:36.41 (NCAA 'A')
4.) Ohio State: 1:37.32
5.) Michigan: 1:37.23
6.) Purdue: 1:38.30
7.) Iowa: 1:38.99
8.) Rutgers: 1:39.93
9.) Nebraska: 1:40.24
10.) Illinois: 1:40.81
11.) Northwestern: 1:40.92
12.) Michigan State: 1:40.97
13.) Penn State: 1:41.66


800 Freestyle Relay


B1G Conference Record: 6:58.54 (Michigan, 2016) 6:55.34 (Michigan, 2017)
B1G Meet Record: 6:58.54 (Michigan, 2016) 6:55.34 (Michigan, 2017)
Pool Record: 6:55.61 (Georgia, 2010) 6:55.34 (Michigan, 2017)
NCAA 'A' Qualifying: 7:05.68


Powerhouse Michigan, which won the championship title last year in 2016, started and finished the 800 free relay with a blazing 6:55.34, taking down a seven-year pool record left by Georgia. The Wolverines also took down the conference record, meet record, and landed themselves an NCAA "A" qualifying time by over 10 seconds. By the third exchange, the Michigan women had already managed a three-body-length lead, making it clear they would be taking the win. Wisconsin came in second with a 7:00.05, battling and out-touching Minnesota who came in third with 7:00.61.

Minnesota will still be finishing the day with a four-point lead, but with Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin all looking strong so far, it's difficult to say who will be in the lead by this time Thursday.

Full Results

1.) Michigan: 6:55.34 (B10 & POOL RECORD)
2.) Wisconsin: 7:00.05 (NCAA 'A')
3.) Minnesota: 7:00.61 (NCAA 'A')
4.) Indiana: 7:04.50 (NCAA 'A')
5.) Ohio State: 7:06.53
6.) Northwestern 7:06.64
7.) Penn State: 7:09.40
8.) Purdue: 7:09.75
9.) Illinois: 7:12.50
10.) Nebraska: 7:12.71
11.) Iowa: 7:14.79
12.) Rutgers: 7:18.71
13.) Michigan State: 7:25.48


Team Scores


Minnesota: 118
Michigan: 114
Wisconsin: 110
Indiana: 108
Ohio State: 102
Purdue: 92
Northwestern: 80
Iowa: 78
Nebraska: 74
Illinois: 74
Rutgers: 74
Penn State: 74
Michigan State: 58