BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For the second time this season four Indiana student-athletes earned Big Ten weekly awards following IU’s dual meet versus No. 11/15 Louisville, the conference office announced Wednesday (Jan. 19).
Swimmer of the week Brendan Burns, diver of the week Carson Tyler and freshman of the week Rafael Miroslaw combined to sweep the men’s awards after they helped the Hoosiers dominate Louisville, 205-95. Senior diver Kristen Hayden added to the tally, winning Big Ten Women’s Diver of the Week laurels.
Between its men’s and women’s teams, eight Indiana student-athletes have collected 14 such awards over five weeks of eligibility this season.
Men’s Swimmer of the Week: Brendan Burns
Junior Brendan Burns continued his fantastic campaign with his fourth conference award of the season and fifth of his career. Burns won and posted NCAA B cut times in all three individual races he swum and helped his relay group to a third-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay.
The Berwyn, Pennsylvania, native, won both the 200 and 100-Yard Butterfly via significant times. His 1:40.72 in the 200 ranks No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten, and his 45.49 in the 100 comes in at No. 8 nationally and No. 2 in the conference.
Burns also won the 200 Backstroke, finishing two seconds ahead of the competition with a 1:41.18.
Men’s Diver of the Week: Carson Tyler
Freshman Carson Tyler won both diving events Friday to capture his third conference award and second diver of the week selection.
In the 1-meter dive, Tyler posted a season-best 411.83 to win the event by over 46 points. He followed it up with a 387.60 in the 3M to edge out Louisville’s Daniel Pinto (379.58) and fellow Hoosier freshman Quinn Henninger (378.38).
Both scores came as NCAA Zone Qualifying marks. Tyler has tallied such scores in all 10 events he has competed in this season.
Men’s Freshman of the Week: Rafael Miroslaw
Freshman Rafael Miroslaw collected his first-career Big Ten weekly award by dominating in the freestyle events. Like Burns, Miroslaw won three of his four races, then finished fourth in the 50-Yard Freestyle with a 20.00.
The Hamburg, Germany, native started his day with a triumph in the 200 Freestyle, touching the wall in 1:33.39. He followed that performance with a win the 100 Free in 43.10. To close the evening Miroslaw posted a 42.54 split as the anchor in IU’s 400 Freestyle Relay victory.
Women’s Diver of the Week: Kristen Hayden
Senior Kristen Hayden earned her second-career Big Ten Diver of the Week award, first since 2018 and first since becoming a Hoosier. The Hillsborough, New Jersey, native won both diving events Friday.
Hayden set a career-best mark in the 1-meter dive, scoring a 319.50, the third-highest mark by an IU female diver this season. Hayden also won the 3-meter dive by almost 20 points with a 362.10. Both scores were NCAA Zone Qualifying marks.
