Feb. 20, 2010

Complete Results

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - At the conclusion of the Big Ten Championships Saturday night, senior Jen Ivarson tied Natasha Messmer for the all-time record in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:02.00 in the preliminaries.

"It's bittersweet for Jen to tie it," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "I know she wanted it for herself, but she's going to be able to get her name on the board and it's nothing to hang her head about. Going out with a lifetime-best time on the last day is great for her."

With that time, Ivarson earned a final swim tonight clocking in at 2:02.43 and placing 20th, while senior CeCe Marizu finished 24th in the finals of the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:01.65 and sophomore Kristen Manias finished 22nd in the 100 freestyle with a time of 51.27. Manias' qualifying time in the prelims (50.99) makes her the sixth fastest individual in school history.

The 400 freestyle relay consisting of freshman Erin Lamb, Manias, junior Meghan Mason and sophomore Brittany McGowan became the sixth fastest in school history, clocking in at 3:24.72.

"Those four girls have been working hard together all year, so it's good to see them put together a solid relay at the end of a long meet," Novitsky said.

Freshman Sarah Coady's time in the 200 backstroke prelims (2:04.14) was good for 10th fastest individual in school history, as was sophomore April McKee's finish (2:21.33) in the 200 breaststroke prelims.

In the 100 freestyle prelims, McGowan (51.34), Lamb (51.72), freshman Kim Kalenda (52.11), sophomore Kelly Kunkel (52.17) and junior Corey Kasten (53.39) all recorded lifetime-best times, while sophomore Rachel Japp reached a lifetime-best in the 200 breaststroke (2:22.07) and freshman Erin Rodriguez (2:04.25), junior Ann Miller (2:04.73) and freshman Alyssa Petruzzello (2:07.97) posted lifetime bests in the 200 butterfly prelims.

"Obviously, we would have liked to have finished higher in the standings, but that's just something we will take back with us," Novitsky said. "There's nothing left but to take steps forward and work for the future with our younger athletes. On behalf of the coaching staff, we'd like to give a special thanks to all the seniors for their hard work for four years and for believing in this program."

The Big Ten Network will air its coverage of the Big Ten Championships on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. CT.

Final Standings:
1. Indiana-758.0
2. Minnesota-572.5
3. Michigan-462.5
4. Purdue-460.0
5. Ohio State-399.5
6. Wisconsin-384.5
7. Penn State-333.0
8. Northwestern-238.0
9. Iowa-120.0
10. Michigan State-89.0
11. Illinois-51