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One year later, one place better. Along with a number of new school records.
At Purdue, the Big Ten Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships wrapped up over the weekend with Rutgers finishing in ninth place, one spot better than in 2016. The Michigan women won their second consecutive conference title.
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For a program that has had its ups and downs, the move upward in the standings is, while small, a show of progress.
"It has been a thrilling meet for us and I'm very proud of what we have accomplished together. Finishing another spot higher as a team and being in a very close race for eighth place with Penn State was really exciting," said head coach Petra Martin. "I would say that today was our best day and we had a ton of inspiring races. We have earned every yard and every dive and are looking forward to building upon this great momentum moving forward. NCAA Championships are coming soon but so is next season and we are excited and motivated to keep stepping up our level of performance."
RECAP: #RUSwimDive closes out #B1G Championships with three school records Saturday night: https://t.co/zP9PdZ0tlj #EarnEverything pic.twitter.com/kKZLPDqWrf
— RU Swimming & Diving (@RUSwimDive) February 19, 2017
Sophomores Vera Koprivova and Francesca Stoppa each recorded individual school records and the 400 freestyle relay added another program mark as Rutgers closed out action at the championships.
Stoppa added her second school record of the championships in the 200 butterfly; she also had a school mark of 53.16 in the 100 butterfly on Friday's.
The 400 freestyle relay, Koprivova, senior Meghan Kiely, and freshmen Alexandra Fabugais-Inaba and Clare Lawlor finished with a time of 3:19.98. Junior Addison Walkowiak wrapped up the competition eighth with a score of 260.45 in the platform dive.
We broke five school records this weekend, including this one that made the RVision Top 5! #EarnEverything https://t.co/SzxBwTmKdH
— RU Swimming & Diving (@RUSwimDive) February 20, 2017
The conference is fairly strong, with five schools ranked in the top 25. That includes champion Michigan (6), Wisconsin (12), Indiana (15), Minnesota (20), and Ohio State (22). Purdue also received votes in the most recent poll. Koprivova added her first individual school record in the 200 backstroke, finishing fifth overall in the A final.
School Records Set at Big Ten Championships
Francesca Stoppa: 100 Butterfly, 200 Butterfly
Vera Koprovova: 200 Backstroke
Vera Koprovova, Meghan Kiely, Alexandra Fabugais-Inaba. Clare Lawlor: 400 Freestyle Relay