IOWA CITY, IOWA – Northwestern women's swimming and diving closed out the third day of competition at the 2020 Big Ten Championships with 580 points to put the Wildcats in fourth of 13 teams going in to the final day of competition.
Junior Calypso Sheridan led with way, claiming her first Big Ten title in the 400 IM and becoming the first Wildcat swimmer to win a conference title since Andrea Hupman in 2008. The junior finished in a season best time of 4:03.18, hitting the NCAA 'A' standard and securing her spot in the NCAA Championships. First-year Ally Larson also swam in the championship final, touching in time of 4:12.36 to finish seventh.
Sophomore Miriam Guevara was the highest NU finisher in the 100 fly with a seasons best time of 52.34 to earn All-Conference honors and 25 team points.
Sophie Angus earned her second school record of the weekend, touching in a time of 58.96 to lead the 'Cats 5-6 finish in the 100 breast. Followed by first-year Hannah Brunzell, Angus earned another NCAA 'B' Cut and 25 NU points.
In the 100 back, the Wildcats were led by first-year Emma Lepisova's third place finish in 52.36 for e 53 points for Chicago's Big Ten Team. The first-year was followed by senior teammate Krystal Lara who touched in a season best time of 52.524.
On the diving boards, first-year Markie Hopkins finished sixth overall, scoring an NCAA Qualifying 308.35 points and was the second highest finishing first-year in the competition.
Sheridan was back in the pool to lead off the record setting 200 free relay which finished in a program best time of 1:28.70. The team of Sheridan, senior Malorie Han, junior Maddie Smith and senior Nicole Aarts finished fourth and earned 52 critical team points. As leadoff on the relay, Sheridan also broke her own school record in the 50 free in a time of 22.11 to bring her count to five school records through the first three days of competition.
Northwestern will be back in the pool tomorrow morning for the final day of the Big Ten Championships with 200 back prelims beginning at 11 am.
Friday Prelims
The Wildcats qualified 13 athletes through to represent NU in all six events and the 200 free relay.
NU earned a spot in each of the 100 fly finals including sophomore Miriam Guevara in the A final, junior Maddie Smith in the B Final and junior Jasmine Hellmer in the C final.
Calypso Sheridan was the top finisher in the 400 IM, followed by first-year Ally Larson who also qualified for the A final and first-year Danielle Nowaski who earned the top spot in the C-final.
Krystal Lara was the only NU qualifier in the 200 Free, securing a spot in the A final before also earning a spot in the 100 Back championship final along with teammates Emma Lepisova and Nicole Aarts who earned spots in the B final.
Junior Sophie Angus and first-year Hannah Brunzell both earned spots in the Championship finial of the 100 breast followed by teammate Tara Vovk. On the diving boards, first-year Markie Hopkins qualified for the evening championship final with a score of 283.50 for an auto qualification.
Thursday Finals
Junior Calypso Sheridan earned her best career finish as the runner up in the 200 IM finals in a time of 1:53.13 to earn a NCAA 'A' cut and better her own school record. First-year Hannah Brunzell was the top finisher in the 'C' final with a seasons best time of 1:58.39 to earn an NCAA 'B' cut and nine team points.
The Wildcats started off the evening session with 11 team points in the 500 free led by junior Ilektra Lebl who finished second in the 'C' Final with a season best time of 4:44.48. Lebl was followed by first-years Ally Larson and Yulia Groysman who finished 22nd and 24th respectively.
Senior Malorie Han was the top finisher in the 50 free 'C' final with a lifetime best of 22.67 to earn an addition nine team points.The 'Cats also had two divers qualify for the finals with first-years Jaye Patrick and Markie Hopkins finishing 14th and 15th respectively with scores of 253.70 and 251.80.
NU closed out the day with their second top three finish of the weekend with the relay team of Sheridan, sophomore Miriam Guevara, Brunzell and Han bettering their previous school record by over four seconds to earn the fourth NCAA 'A' Cut of the Weekend. The 'Cats touched in a seasons best 3:29.48 led off by Sheridan with a new school record in the 100 back in 51.31.
Thursday Prelims
Northwestern started the day qualifying three swimmers to the 500 free finals with junior Ilektra Lebl and first-years Ally Larson and Yulia Groysman all swimming season-best times of 4:46.15, 4:46.63 and 4:47.31 respectively.
In the next event, junior Calypso Sheridan broke her own school record to finish second overall and qualify for the A final of the 200 IM finals behind Big Ten record holder senior Elizabeth Nelson of Wisconsin in a time of 1:54.36. First-year Hannah Brunzell also qualified for the 200 IM with a NCAA 'B' cut time of 1:59.88.
Senior Malorie Han qualified for the 'C' Final of the 50 free, tied for 21st with a seasons best time of 22.88, just off her career best 22.74.
Wednesday Finals
The Wildcats kicked off the conference championships with the relay team of juniors Calypso Sheridan, Sophie Angus, sophomore Miriam Guevara and junior Maddie Smith finishing third in the 200 Medley in a school record time of 1:36.37 to finish third and earn and NCAA 'A' cut.
In the 800 relay, the team of Ally Larson, Krystal Lara, Malorie Han and Ilektra Lebl touched in a season best time of 7:06.88 to finish sixth overall and add 48 points to the Wildcats total.
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It's Calypso Sheridan's world, we're just living in it. ??
— Northwestern On BTN (@NUOnBTN) February 22, 2020
A season-best time earns the junior a B1G title in the 400 IM! @NUSwimDive@NU_Sports | #GoCats pic.twitter.com/U2nYwwB7EK
Junior Calypso Sheridan led with way, claiming her first Big Ten title in the 400 IM and becoming the first Wildcat swimmer to win a conference title since Andrea Hupman in 2008. The junior finished in a season best time of 4:03.18, hitting the NCAA 'A' standard and securing her spot in the NCAA Championships. First-year Ally Larson also swam in the championship final, touching in time of 4:12.36 to finish seventh.
Sophomore Miriam Guevara was the highest NU finisher in the 100 fly with a seasons best time of 52.34 to earn All-Conference honors and 25 team points.
Sophie Angus earned her second school record of the weekend, touching in a time of 58.96 to lead the 'Cats 5-6 finish in the 100 breast. Followed by first-year Hannah Brunzell, Angus earned another NCAA 'B' Cut and 25 NU points.
In the 100 back, the Wildcats were led by first-year Emma Lepisova's third place finish in 52.36 for e 53 points for Chicago's Big Ten Team. The first-year was followed by senior teammate Krystal Lara who touched in a season best time of 52.524.
On the diving boards, first-year Markie Hopkins finished sixth overall, scoring an NCAA Qualifying 308.35 points and was the second highest finishing first-year in the competition.
Sheridan was back in the pool to lead off the record setting 200 free relay which finished in a program best time of 1:28.70. The team of Sheridan, senior Malorie Han, junior Maddie Smith and senior Nicole Aarts finished fourth and earned 52 critical team points. As leadoff on the relay, Sheridan also broke her own school record in the 50 free in a time of 22.11 to bring her count to five school records through the first three days of competition.
Northwestern will be back in the pool tomorrow morning for the final day of the Big Ten Championships with 200 back prelims beginning at 11 am.
| Prelims – 11 am | Finals – 6:30 pm |
| 200 Back 100 Free 200 Breast 200 Fly Platform Dive 1650 Free (4:15 pm) |
200 Back 100 Free 200 Breast 200 Fly Platform Dive 400 Free Relay |
Friday Prelims
The Wildcats qualified 13 athletes through to represent NU in all six events and the 200 free relay.
NU earned a spot in each of the 100 fly finals including sophomore Miriam Guevara in the A final, junior Maddie Smith in the B Final and junior Jasmine Hellmer in the C final.
Calypso Sheridan was the top finisher in the 400 IM, followed by first-year Ally Larson who also qualified for the A final and first-year Danielle Nowaski who earned the top spot in the C-final.
Krystal Lara was the only NU qualifier in the 200 Free, securing a spot in the A final before also earning a spot in the 100 Back championship final along with teammates Emma Lepisova and Nicole Aarts who earned spots in the B final.
Junior Sophie Angus and first-year Hannah Brunzell both earned spots in the Championship finial of the 100 breast followed by teammate Tara Vovk. On the diving boards, first-year Markie Hopkins qualified for the evening championship final with a score of 283.50 for an auto qualification.
Thursday Finals
Junior Calypso Sheridan earned her best career finish as the runner up in the 200 IM finals in a time of 1:53.13 to earn a NCAA 'A' cut and better her own school record. First-year Hannah Brunzell was the top finisher in the 'C' final with a seasons best time of 1:58.39 to earn an NCAA 'B' cut and nine team points.
The Wildcats started off the evening session with 11 team points in the 500 free led by junior Ilektra Lebl who finished second in the 'C' Final with a season best time of 4:44.48. Lebl was followed by first-years Ally Larson and Yulia Groysman who finished 22nd and 24th respectively.
Senior Malorie Han was the top finisher in the 50 free 'C' final with a lifetime best of 22.67 to earn an addition nine team points.The 'Cats also had two divers qualify for the finals with first-years Jaye Patrick and Markie Hopkins finishing 14th and 15th respectively with scores of 253.70 and 251.80.
NU closed out the day with their second top three finish of the weekend with the relay team of Sheridan, sophomore Miriam Guevara, Brunzell and Han bettering their previous school record by over four seconds to earn the fourth NCAA 'A' Cut of the Weekend. The 'Cats touched in a seasons best 3:29.48 led off by Sheridan with a new school record in the 100 back in 51.31.
Thursday Prelims
Northwestern started the day qualifying three swimmers to the 500 free finals with junior Ilektra Lebl and first-years Ally Larson and Yulia Groysman all swimming season-best times of 4:46.15, 4:46.63 and 4:47.31 respectively.
In the next event, junior Calypso Sheridan broke her own school record to finish second overall and qualify for the A final of the 200 IM finals behind Big Ten record holder senior Elizabeth Nelson of Wisconsin in a time of 1:54.36. First-year Hannah Brunzell also qualified for the 200 IM with a NCAA 'B' cut time of 1:59.88.
Senior Malorie Han qualified for the 'C' Final of the 50 free, tied for 21st with a seasons best time of 22.88, just off her career best 22.74.
Wednesday Finals
The Wildcats kicked off the conference championships with the relay team of juniors Calypso Sheridan, Sophie Angus, sophomore Miriam Guevara and junior Maddie Smith finishing third in the 200 Medley in a school record time of 1:36.37 to finish third and earn and NCAA 'A' cut.
In the 800 relay, the team of Ally Larson, Krystal Lara, Malorie Han and Ilektra Lebl touched in a season best time of 7:06.88 to finish sixth overall and add 48 points to the Wildcats total.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!