Swimming Sets Two More Records on Final Day of Big Ten Championships

Saturday, February 22

Iowa City, IA

Rutgers University

Big Ten Championships

Photo by: David C. Harmantas

Swimming Sets Two More Records on Final Day of Big Ten Championships

Feb 22 | Women's Swimming & Diving

Complete Results Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

Sofia Chichiakina Resets 100 Free Record During Prelims and 400 Free Relay Closes Out Meet With New Benchmark

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Two more Rutgers records fell on the final day of competition at the 2020 Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships on Saturday as the Scarlet Knights set new benchmarks in the 100 free and 400 free relay.

The Scarlet Knights finished 11th overall , set five Rutgers records during the four-day competition and captured their first Big Ten silver medal on Friday night with Terka Grusova's runner-up performance in the 100 back on Friday. Grusova was named Second Team All-Big Ten and senior Francesca Bertotto was named the Rutgers recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

FROM THE POOL DECK

After racing in the finals of the 100 back on Friday, sophomore Terka Grusova advanced to B finals in the 200 back with a season best 1:55.73 and finished 16^th overall after racing to a time of 1:57.02 in the evening.
Freshman Sofia Chichaikina broke her third school record in the prelims of the 100 free. The freshman advanced to B finals with a new Scarlet Knight benchmark of 49.04. In the evening, she placed 12^th overall with a time of 49.36.
On the platform, junior Lauren Boone was the top Scarlet Knight finisher with a 179.15 immediately followed by sophomore Jenna Douglass with a 175.65. Sophomore Marina Wilkins meanwhile scored a 165.00.
The night ended with the 400 free relay team of Chichaikina, freshman Elinah Phillip, sophomore Terka Grusova and freshman Giulia Ghidini taking sixth place in the 400 free relay resetting the Rutgers record in a time of 3:18.06.

KNIGHT NOTES

Altogether, the Scarlet Knights set five new Rutgers records during the Big Ten Championships - 50 free (Elinah Phillip), 100 free (Sofia Chichaikina), 200 free (Sofia Chichaikina), 200 free relay (Elinah Phillip, Terka Grusova, Giulia Ghidini & Sofia Chichiakina) and 400 free relay (Sofia Chichaikina, Elinah Phillip, Terka Grusova & Giulia Ghidini).
Sofia Chichaikina's new school record in the 100 free bests the previous mark of 49.14 set by Madison Kennedy in 2007.
The 400 free relay squad bested the previous top time of 3:19.98 set in 2017.
Other personals bests set on the final day of conference competition came from freshman Katelyn McCullough in the 200 back and by freshman Eleonora Trentin and sophomore Lizzie Zeller in the 100 free.
Season bests were also captured by Delaney Carey in the 200 breast and Sarah Davis in the 100 free.

PHOTO GALLERY

Gallery: (2/22/2020) Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships

UP NEXT

Several Scarlet Knights will be back in the pool on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Liberty Last Chance Meet.

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