Indiana Women Beat Ohio State By .5 Points to Snap Four-Year Big Ten Title Streak (original) (raw)

2024 WOMEN’S BIG TEN SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

With the Big Ten women’s title coming down to the final 400 freestyle relay on Saturday night, Indiana sophomore Kristina Paegle posted a blistering 46.65 anchor to carry the Hoosiers past Ohio State (3:12.70) for a runner-up finish in 3:11.37 behind Michigan (3:11.21) — and the overall meet victory.

Trailing by 1.5 points heading into the last race, Indiana ended the session with 1,359 points across the four days of competition — just .5 points ahead of the Buckeyes (1,358.5), snapping their four-year winning streak at the Women’s Big Ten Championships.

Ohio State led by more than a second through the first three legs of the 400 free relay courtesy of senior Kit Kat Zenick (48.03), junior Teresa Ivan (live results split appears incorrect), and fifth-year Amy Fulmer (live results split also appears incorrect). But with everything on the line, Michigan junior Lindsay Flynn (47.09) and Paegle chased down Buckeyes senior Tristan Harrison (49.60) in a thrilling finish.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT? pic.twitter.com/tLYOalBMnZ

— Indiana Swim & Dive (@IndianaSwimDive) February 25, 2024

Paegle almost carried Indiana past Michigan, but Flynn held her off with the second-fastest split in the field at 47.09. Hoosiers junior Anna Peplowski (47.72), fifth-year Ashley Turak (47.71), and senior Ella Ristic (49.29) joined Paegle on their runner-up relay.

400 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

Top 8:

  1. Michigan – 3:11.21 *Pool record
  2. Indiana – 3:11.37
  3. Ohio State – 3:12.70
  4. Wisconsin – 3:14.51
  5. Penn State – 3:16.83
  6. Minnesota – 3:17.69
  7. Northwestern – 3:17.91
  8. Iowa – 3:19.26

The Wolverines’ quartet of freshman Stephanie Balduccini (48.09), senior Claire Newman (48.13), sophomore Brady Kendall (47.90), and Flynn used their depth to earn the 1st-place finish in 3:11.21 — still almost a second slower than their season-best 3:10.30.

Wisconsin placed 4th in 3:14.51 thanks to junior Abby Carlson (48.88), senior Phoebe Bacon (48.39), sophomore Abby Wanezek (48.47), and freshman Hailey Tierney (48.77). The Badgers have been as fast as 3:13.79 this season.

Every point mattered for Indiana, which got a big boost from **Skyler Liu**‘s .4-point victory on the 10-meter platform right before the 400 free relay. What a clutch performance from head coach **Ray Looze**‘s Hoosiers this week.

ARE YOU KIDDING SKYLER LIU???

Needed a 78, got a 79! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/dzFEhP1MrQ

— Indiana Swim & Dive (@IndianaSwimDive) February 25, 2024

Final Team Scores

  1. Indiana – 1,359
  2. Ohio State – 1,358.5
  3. Michigan – 1,207
  4. Wisconsin – 978
  5. Minnesota – 816
  6. Purdue – 572.5
  7. Northwestern – 463.5
  8. Nebraska – 409
  9. Penn State – 382
  10. Rutgers – 363.5
  11. Iowa – 303
  12. Illinois – 204

In This Story

Anna Peplowski
Phoebe Bacon

About Riley Overend

Riley is an associate editor interested in the stories taking place outside of the pool just as much as the drama between the lane lines. A 2019 graduate of Boston College, he arrived at SwimSwam in April of 2022 after three years as a sports reporter and sports editor at newspapers …

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