Swimming & Diving

Feb. 17, 2011

Results

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Michigan State women's swimming & diving team concluded day two of the 2011 Big Ten Championships in Bloomington, Ind., on Thursday, Feb, 17, with 53 points, good enough for 10th place. Sarah Clay led MSU on the day with her eighth-place mark of 303.35 points on the 1-meter springboard.

The day two's evening session began with the 200-yard freestyle relay. MSU's relay squad of Jenny Rusch, Brooke Telander, Morgan Piasecki and Lauren Daugherty finished with a season-best time of 1:33.52, 2.2 seconds faster than the previous high. The relay team's mark placed it ninth overall in the event.

In the 500-yard freestyle, KJ Burkland led MSU in the event with a time of 5:01.27. However, several of her teammates clocked season-best marks in the event. Jessica Wellick finished the race in 5:02.03, 6.01 seconds ahead of her previous high. Both Whitney Woodbridge and Rachael Wilson joined Wellick with season-bests on the day. Woodbridge clocked a 5:04.42, 3.14 seconds ahead, while Wellick finished in 5:06.05, 1.78 faster.

Alex Pierce led MSU in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:07.09. Pierce clocked a time which was 2.13 seconds faster than her previous season-best. Joining Pierce with a season high was both Sarah Falconer and Lauren Baisden. Falconer recorded a time of 2:09.14, 2.41 ahead of her season best, and Baisden finished in 2:10.50, 0.67 seconds faster.

Rusch was the Spartans' top swimmer in the 50-yard freestyle when she clocked in at 23.58. Rusch was 0.13 faster in the Big Ten Championships than she had been during the regular season. Telander finished the race with a mark which was 0.24 seconds faster than any other meet this season with a time of 23.77. Piasecki clocked a 24.18 to finish 0.12 faster, while Daughtery finished in 24.37, 0.09 faster. Kerry Sodonis and Summer Strickler rounded out MSU's swimmers in the event who improved upon their previous season-bests. Sodonis finished in 24.40 (0.16 faster) and Strickler turned in a 24.47 (0.15 quicker).

The Spartans return to action tomorrow for the third day of competition at the Big Ten Championships hosted by Indiana. The 400 IM is slated to begin the day at 11 a.m.

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