Four Huskers Qualify for Finals in Session Four

Ann Arbor, Mich.- Four Huskers earned spots in Friday night’s finals, while swimming NCAA B Cut times as Nebraska completed the fourth session of the Big Ten Championships Friday morning at the University of Michigan’s Canham Natatorium.  The Huskers competed in preliminary rounds of the 400-yard IM, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard backstroke.

In the morning's first event, Bridget Pacilio finished the 400-yard individual medley in a career-best time of 4:22.28, securing a 29th-place finish. Fellow freshman, Anna McDonald was not far behind finishing in 32nd-place with a time of 4:23.15. Brooke Holmes rounded out the top-three for Nebraska, in the event, with a career-best and 37th-place time of 4:27.16.

400-Yard IM Preliminary Results
29th – Bridget Pacilio, 4:22.28 (Career Best)
32nd – Anna McDonald, 4:23.15
37th – Brooke Holmes, 4:27.16 (Career Best)
42nd – Michaela Cunningham, 4:29.01 (Career Best)
43rd – Aimee Fischer, 4:29.65

Nebraska had one of its best performances of the meet, up to this point, in the 100-yard butterfly. All four Huskers who competed in the event qualified for Friday night’s finals and earned NCAA B Cuts. Taryn Collura led the way finishing in sixth-place with a time of 53.63, earning a spot in the A Finals. Bria Deveaux, Dana Posthuma and Erin Oeltjen all swam career-best times, earning spots in the B Final after finishing 10th, 14th and 15th, respectively.

100-Yard Butterfly Preliminary Results
6th - Taryn Collura, 53.63 (NCAA B Cut)
10th - Bria Deveaux, 53.96 (Career Best, NCAA B Cut)
14th – Dana Posthuma, 54.38 (Career Best, NCAA B Cut)
15th - Erin Oeltjen, 54.42 (Career Best, NCAA B Cut)

In the 200-yard freestyle preliminaries, Katt Sickle and Kaylyn Flatt were Nebraska’s top performers. Sickle earned a spot as an alternate for tonight’s finals after finishing in 26th-place with a career-best time of 1:48.78. Kaylyn Flatt also swam a career-best time finishing in 1:50.10, fast enough for 42nd-place.

200-Yard Freestyle Preliminary Results
26th - Katt Sickle, 1:48.78 (Career Best)
42nd – Kaylyn Flatt, 1:50.10 (Career Best)
44th – Cassandra Brassard, 1:50.24
67th – Julia Roller, 1:52.52

Jordan Ehly led the way for Nebraska in the 100-yard breaststroke. Ehly finished in 31st-place after posting a time of 1:03.18. Katie Ditter finished shortly after Ehly, securing a 35th-place finish with a time of 1:03.30.

100-Yard Breaststroke Preliminary Results
31st – Jordan Ehly, 1:03.18
35th – Katie Ditter, 1:03.30
39th – Samantha Hardewig, 1:03.47
49th - Krista Van Wie, 1:04.31

In the session's final swimming event, a trio of freshmen led the way for the Huskers. Morgan McCafferty finished in 29th-place with a time 55.51; Jacqueline Jeschke swam a career-best time of 56.16 for 35th-place and Lindsay Helferich finished in 38th-place after swimming a career-best time of 56.34.

100-Yard Backstroke Preliminary Results
29th – Morgan McCafferty, 55.51
35th – Jacqueline Jeschke, 56.16 (Career Best)
38th – Lindsay Helferich, 56.34 (Career Best)
46th – Jacqueline Juffer, 56.92
55th – Alexandra Bilunas, 59.03 (Career Best)

The fifth session of the Big Ten Championships, including the finals of this morning's events, the 400-yard medley relay and the three-meter dive, will take place on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. Check back in to Huskers.com following each session for updates.