Story by NU Athletic Communications
Nebraska swimming and diving heads to West Lafayette, Ind. for the Big Ten Championships, Feb. 21-24. Twelve teams will face off in hopes of clinching the conference title, starting with the 200 medley relay and the 800 freestyle relay Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. (CT) at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center. The following three days of competition begin with prelims at 9 a.m (CT) and finals at 4 p.m. (CT).
Gena Jorgenson has racked up 19 individual victories throughout her season, while setting five career bests and notching six B standards. Jorgenson broke the 1000 freestyle school record in a dual with Illinois on Jan. 27 with a time of 9:41.68.
The sophomore from Aberdeen, S.D. tallied three B Cuts in the 500 freestyle, one of which earned her a career-best time at the Hawkeye Invite (4:43.87). Jorgenson’s other B standards came in the 1650 freestyle and the 400 IM.
JoJo Randby has posted two career bests and 15 top-three finishes so far this season, including a B Cut and victory in the 100 breaststroke at the Hawkeye Invite (1:00.54).
Maia Hall is a top contributor for the Big Red in the breaststroke events. The junior from Whitby, England took second-place in the 100 breaststroke at the Hawkeye Invite with a 1:01.20. In addition to the B Standard at the Hawkeye Invitational, Hall has swam a trio of B cuts in the 200 breaststroke.
Seniors Sarah Barton and Emily Haimes have a combined 36 top-three finishes this season. Barton is coming off a win against Rutgers in the 100 backstroke, after posting a career-best time of 54.84. Haimes has contributed to eight winning relays on the season and was a part of three in the Huskers’ last outing against Rutgers.
Giulia Marchi has found success for NU in the 200 freestyle. The sophomore from Asola, Italy has two victories in the event and set a career-best with her second-place finish at the Hawkeye Invitational (1:49.06).
Beatrix Tanko has been a force for the Huskers in her inaugural season. She hit the B Standard in the 100 butterfly at the Hawkeye Invitational with a 53.26. Tanko holds 14 top-three finishes, including six wins so far this season.
Anastasia Tichy earned a pair of B Cuts in the 200 butterfly. She logged her career-best time against Rutgers on Feb. 2 (1:58.20).
On the diving side, Abby Baxter leads the Huskers with 13 top-three finishes, including seven titles, while earning 17 zone-qualifying scores.
In her sophomore campaign for the Huskers, Kelsey Clairmont has notched 15 top-five finishes, including two titles.
The Huskers enter the competition at 7-2 on the season, with Big Ten wins over Illinois and Rutgers and conference losses to Minnesota and Iowa. NU avenged their loss to the Hawkeyes at the Hawkeye Invitational by placing first out of eight teams, including Iowa and Rutgers.
In the current CSCAA poll, five Big Ten teams are ranked in the top 25. Indiana is ranked sixth, and Ohio State is ranked eighth.
A livestream will be available throughout the competition on Big Ten Plus.
2024 Big Ten ChampionshipsWest Lafayette. Ind. (Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center)February 21-24, 2024Prelims at 9 a.m. (CT), Finals at 4 p.m. (CT)
Order of Events
Wednesday200 Medley Relay800 Freestyle Relay
Thursday
500 Freestyle200 IM50 FreestyleOne Meter400 Medley Relay
Friday
100 Butterfly400 IM200 Freestyle100 Breaststroke100 BackstrokeThree Meter200 Freestyle Relay
Saturday
1,650 Freestyle200 Backstroke100 Freestyle200 Breaststroke200 ButterflyPlatform Diving400 Freestyle Relay