Three Huskers Headed for Finals After Session Two

Ann Arbor, Mich.- Three Huskers earned trips to the finals as well as NCAA B cuts, Thursday morning, during session two of the 2016 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships. Session two featured preliminary rounds in the 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard IM and 50-yard freestyle.

In the first preliminary event of the morning, Katt Sickle finished 16th in the 500-yard freestyle with a career-best and NCAA B Cut time of 4:46.52, earning her a spot in Thursday night’s B final.  Kaylyn Flatt swam a career-best time of 4:51.28 to secure a 30th-place finish in the race.

500-Yard Freestyle Results
16th - Katt Sickle, 4:46.52 (Career Best, NCAA B Cut)
30th – Kaylyn Flatt, 4:51.28 (Career Best)
47th – Cassandra Brassard, 4:55.82
51st - Aimee Fischer, 4:57.18 (Career Best)
73rd – Brooke Holmes, 5:08.01

The 200-yard individual medley preliminaries saw four Huskers record career best times. Sam Hardewig led the way for Nebraska earning a spot in the C final after swimming a NCAA B Cut time of 2:01.07, earning her 21st-place in the prelims. Freshmen Anna McDonald and Dana Posthuma were Nebraska’s next top-performers with McDonald finishing in 36th-place (2:02.29), while Posthuma finished in 45th-place (2:03.38).

200-Yard IM Results
21st - Sam Hardewig, 2:01.07 (NCAA B Cut)
36th – Anna McDonald, 2:02.29
45th – Dana Posthuma, 2:03.38 (Career Best)
50th- Katie Ditter, 2:04.00 (Career Best)
51st – Bridget Pacilio, 2:04.02 (Career Best)
69th – Morgan McCafferty, 2:05.88
70th – Jordan Ehly, 2:06.39
74th – Jacqueline Jeschke, 2:06.70
79th – Michaela Cunningham, 2:07.35 (Career Best)
88th – Krista Van Wie, 2:10.26

Taryn Collura led the way for Nebraska in the 50-yard freestyle. Collura earned a spot in tonight’s A final after swimming a NCAA B Cut time of 22.51, the fifth-fastest prelim time at the meet. Alexandra Bilunas earned a spot as an alternate for tonight’s C final after winning a swim-off to secure 26th-place (23.14). Erin Oeltjen and Bria Deveaux were not far behind with Oeltjen finishing in 33rd-place (23.32), while Deveaux finished in 37th-place (23.37).

50-Yard Freestyle Results
5th – Taryn Collura, 22.51 (NCAA B Cut)
26th – Alexandra Bilunas, 23.14
33rd – Erin Oeltjen, 23.32
37th - Bria Deveaux, 23.37
62nd – Lindsay Helferich, 23.74
80th – Jacqueline Juffer, 24.27

The Big Ten Championship's third session, including the finals of Thursday morning's events, one-meter diving and the 200-yard freestyle relay, will take place tonight beginning at 5:30 p.m. Check back in to Huskers.com following each session for updates.