The No. 17-ranked Indiana University women’s swimming and diving team had a great showing on Thursday in the morning prelims of the 2019 Big Ten Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington, Ind.
The Hoosiers will bring back 19 swimmers and divers for the evening finals – four more than the team had on the same day last season. IU will have five in Championship Finals, 10 in B Finals and four in C Finals.
Indiana enters Thursday night in second place overall with a total of 114 points. Michigan leads the way with 120, while Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio State are tied for third with 106 points.
500 Freestyle
In the 500 freestyle, Cassy Jernberg will lead six swimmers back for finals on Thursday night. Jernberg qualified third overall with a time of 4:40.25.
The Hoosiers will have four swimmers in the B Final of the 500 freestyle, including the top-two seeds in Maria Paula Heitmann (4:42.64) and Josie Grote (4:44.54). Both swimmers set personal-best times, with Grote trimming 10 seconds off her previous PR. Freshmen Christin Rockway (4:45.73) and Maggie Wallace (4:46.61, PR) will also swim in the B Final.
Freshman Noelle Peplowski will compete in the C Final after touching the wall with a time of 4:46.73.
200 IM
Indiana had a tremendous showing in the 200 IM, qualifying eight of their nine swimmers for evening finals. Bailey Andison will be the No. 2 seed for the Championship Final after posting a 1:55.40. Joining her in the A Final will be Mackenzie Looze (1:56.01, PR) and Lilly King (1:57.02).
In the B Final, senior Christine Jensen will be the top seed after touching the wall in a time of 1:57.65. Bailey Kovac will also swim in the B Final after recording a 1:59.30.
Abby Kirkpatrick will be the top seed in the C Final with a personal-best time of 1:59.38. Also swimming for IU in the C Final will be Laura Morley (2:00.15) and Shelby Koontz (2:00.28).
50 Freestyle
The Hoosiers will bring back three swimmers for the B Final of the 50 freestyle. Laurel Eiber will be the top seed after posting a time of 22.67 on Thursday morning. Joining her in the B Final will be Grace Haskett (22.85) and Julia Wolf (22.87, PR).
1-Meter Dive
Indiana’s Jessica Parratto qualified second overall for the Championship Final, just missing her personal-best score, finishing with a 344.05. Parratto was incredibly consistent throughout her list, scoring over 54 points on each attempt, including two scored over 60 points.
Taylor Carter posted a career-best score of 283.50 to earn a spot in the B Final. Last season, Carter placed 36th in the event.
The 2019 Big Ten Women’s Championships continue on Thursday with the second night of finals. The action gets underway at 6:30 p.m. ET with the finals of the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, 1-meter dive and 400 medley relay.
For all the latest on Indiana University women’s swimming and diving, be sure to follow the team on social media - Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
500 Freestyle
Cassy Jernberg – 4:40.25 (Championship Final – NCAA B Cut)
Maria Paula Heitmann – 4:42.64 (B Final – NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
Josie Grote – 4:44.54 (B Final – NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
Christin Rockway – 4:45.73 (B Final – NCAA B Cut)
Maggie Wallace – 4:46.61 (B Final – NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
Noelle Peplowski – 4:46.73 (C Final – NCAA B Cut)
- Ashleigh Lechner – 5:00.66 (Personal Best)
- Anne Rouleau – 5:01.11
200 IM
Bailey Andison – 1:55.40 (Championship Final – NCAA B Cut)
Mackenzie Looze – 1:56.01 (Championship Final – NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
Lilly King – 1:57.02 (Championship Final – NCAA B Cut)
Christine Jensen – 1:57.65 (B Final – NCAA B Cut)
Bailey Kovac – 1:59.30 (B Final – NCAA B Cut)
Abby Kirkpatrick – 1:59.38 (C Final – NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
Laura Morley – 2:00.15 (C Final)
Shelby Koontz – 2:00.28 (C Final)
- Hope Hayward – 2:04.63 (Personal Best)
50 Freestyle
Laurel Eiber – 22.67 (B Final – NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
Grace Haskett – 22.85 (B Final)
Julia Wolf – 22.87 (B Final – Personal Best)
- Lauren Miller – 23.72 (Personal Best)
1-Meter Dive
Jessica Parratto – 344.05 (Championship Final – NCAA Zones Qualifying Score)
Taylor Carter – 283.50 (B Final – NCAA Zones Qualifying Score, Personal Best)
- Kayla Luarde – 247.75 (Personal Best)
- Alyssa Wang – 242.05 (Personal Best)
- Kallie Higgins – 231.00
