Lips’ Gold Medal in 500 Freestyle Highlights IU’s Effort on Thursday

Thursday, February 18

Ann Arbor, MI

6:30 PM

Indiana University

Big Ten Championships- Finals

Lips’ Gold Medal in 500 Freestyle Highlights IU’s Effort on Thursday

2/18/2016 9:36:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 13-ranked Indiana women's swimming and diving team added another gold medal to it's haul at the 2016 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday night at the Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Hoosiers earned one gold, a silver, and two bronze medals on Thursday night to push the team's medal count to six through two days of competition.

Indiana sits in second place overall with a total of 406.5 points, just 17 points behind host Michigan. Ohio State (328), Minnesota (298.5) and Wisconsin (272.5) round out the top-five after two days.

In the first final of the night, the 200 freestyle relay, the team of Grace Vertigans, Ali Rockett, Holly Spears and Lilly King placed sixth with a time of 1:30.20. The time ranks fourth all-time in school history.

Simply put, Haley Lips had the best 500 freestyle swim the Big Ten has ever had on Thursday night, winning with a NCAA A cut time of 4:35.19. Lips' mark is not only an Indiana school record, but it set the Big Ten conference record, as well as the Big Ten meet record. The impressive time was also a Canham Natatorium record.

Kennedy Goss won the consolation final of the 500 freestyle to place ninth overall, touching the wall with a NCAA B cut time of 4:41.16. Stephanie Marchuk was right behind her, placing 10^th overall with a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 4:41.19. Marchuk's time ranks her as the eighth-fastest 200 IM swimmer in school history.

In the C Final of the 500 free, Allison Cunningham placed sixth to finish 22^nd overall with a time of 4:49.00.

Indiana had an impressive six swimmers score points for the team in the 200 IM, led by the freshmen duo of Miranda Tucker and Lilly King. Tucker earned a silver medal with a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:55.94. Tucker's time is the third-fastest in IU history and ranks her as the second-fastest 200 IM swimmer at the school.

King was right behind her, touching third to earn a bronze medal with a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:57.21. King's time is the eighth-fastest in IU history and ranks her as the third-fastest 200 IM swimmer in school history.

Also, in the championship final, Gia Dalesandro took fifth place with a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 1:57.92. Dalesandro now ranks as the sixth-fastest 200 IM swimmer in Indiana history.

In the B Final, Sam Lisy came in sixth to finish 14^th overall with a NCAA B cut time of 2:00.02. In the C Final, Bailey Pressey finished third to place 19^th overall with a NCAA B cut time of 1:59.83. Also in the C Final, Rachel Matsumura came in seventh to finish 23^rd overall with a personal-best and NCAA B cut time of 2:00.91.

In the 50 freestyle B Final, Grace Vertigans touched fourth to place 12^th overall with a NCAA B cut time of 22.81. In the C Final, Holly Spears came in a tie for fifth to place in a tie for 21^st overall with a mark of 23.10.

Lacey Houser had a career-best performance in the 1-meter championship final, earning a bronze medal with her NCAA Zones qualifying score of 328.80. Houser's great score ranks her as the fifth-best 1-meter diver in school history.

In the consolation final of the 1-meter springboard, Michal Bower took first place with a personal-best score of 312.15 to finish ninth overall. Bower's total ranks her as the 14^th-best 1-meter diver in IU history.

The 2016 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships will continue on Friday morning at the Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor at 6:30 p.m. The prelims for the 400 IM, the 100 butterfly, the 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke will begin at 11 a.m. The prelims and consolation finals of the 3-meter dive will begin at 1 p.m.

Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana women's swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

200 Freestyle Relay
6. Grace Vertigans, Ali Rockett, Holly Spears, Lilly King – 1:30.20

500 Freestyle
1. Haley Lips – 4:35.19 (School Record, Big Ten Record, B1G Meet Record, Pool Record, Personal Best, NCAA A Cut)
9. Kennedy Goss – 4:41.16 (NCAA B Cut)
10. Stephanie Marchuk – 4:41.19 (Personal Best, NCAA B Cut)
22. Allison Cunningham – 4:49.00

200 IM
2. Miranda Tucker – 1:55.94 (Personal Best, NCAA B Cut)
3. Lilly King – 1:57.21 (Personal Best, NCAA B Cut)
5. Gia Dalesandro – 1:57.92 (Personal Best, NCAA B Cut)
14. Sam Lisy – 2:00.02 (NCAA B Cut)
19. Bailey Pressey – 1:59.83 (NCAA B Cut)
23. Rachel Matsumura – 2:00.91 (Personal Best, NCAA B Cut)

50 Freestyle
12. Grace Vertigans – 22.81 (NCAA B Cut)
21. Holly Spears – 23.10

1-Meter Dive
3. Lacey Houser – 328.80 (Personal Best, NCAA Zones Qualifying score; 293.25 Prelims)
9. Michal Bower – 312.15 (Personal Best, NCAA Zones Qualifying score; 277.10 Prelims)