Indianapolis, IN – The 2024 Women’s Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships concluded with a nail-biting finish, as Indiana just edged out Ohio State to claim the title by a mere 0.5 points. The Hoosiers put on an impressive performance throughout the event, ending Ohio State’s four-year winning streak.
Ohio State started strong, positioned to clinch their fifth consecutive Big Ten crown. However, both Indiana and Michigan remained in close pursuit, with the latter benefiting from Ohio State’s disqualification in the 200 freestyle relay. The final session of the championships featured a lineup of exciting events, including the 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 free, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 10-meter platform diving, and 400 free relay.
As the competition progressed, Indiana’s Ching Hwee Gan set the tone by securing a comfortable victory in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 15:54.83. Wisconsin’s Maddie Waggoner also delivered a strong performance, finishing in second place with a time of 15:57.36. The race saw impressive time drops from several swimmers, including Nebraska’s Gena Jorgenson, who knocked nearly 12 seconds off her lifetime best.
In the 200 backstroke final, Wisconsin’s Phoebe Bacon reclaimed her title with a winning time of 1:50.05, showcasing her dominance in the event. Indiana’s Anna Peplowski put up a strong fight, finishing just behind Bacon in second place.
The 100 freestyle final saw Ohio State’s Amy Fulmer emerge victorious with a season-best time of 47.48, defending her Big Ten crown in a closely contested race. Indiana’s Katie Crom continued her success in the 200 butterfly, clinching her second individual title of the week with a winning time of 1:54.61.
The championships concluded with the 10-meter platform diving event, where Indiana’s Skyler Liu secured her second individual title of the week with a score of 342.4. The meet ended on a high note as Michigan claimed victory in the 400 free relay, cementing their strong performance throughout the championships.
Overall, the 2024 Women’s Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships showcased incredible talent and fierce competition, with Indiana ultimately emerging as the victors in a thrilling conclusion.