The Michigan men hosted a quirky sort of “First Chance” meet at the Canham Natatorium this weekend, just two weeks before the upcoming Big Ten Championships, and among other big swims included a new Michigan school record. This meet was almost exclusively Michigan swimmers, though a few from nearby programs like Purdue and Eastern Michigan came for the chance.
In the 200 medley relay, the team of Miguel Ortiz, Bruno Ortiz, Sean Fletcher, and Zach Turk combined for a 1:24.69, which is a new school and natatorium record. The Wolverines were gunning for this record; this meet was largely designed for guys trying to get NCAA cuts before Big Tens, but this group was swimming specifically for the record. “”We were able to finally break that school record and pool record in the 200-yard medley relay, which is why we had them swimming in the first place,” head coach Mike Bottom said.
The splits were: Miguel Ortiz (21.68); Bruno Ortiz (23.59), Fletcher (20.36), Turk (19.06)
That swim would’ve placed Michigan 3rd at last year’s NCAA Championship meet. This is the only relay in the current schedule that Michigan has never won an NCAA title in, though knocking off the defending champs and American Record holders from Arizona will be a tall-task this year.
Several other swimmers were clearly rested for this meet. Anders Lie Nielsen swam a 1:33.66. That’s a lifetime best for the 21-year old freshman and the fastest time in the Big Ten this season. In the 500, Dan Miller was a 4:20.90 to easily make the NCAA “B” standard.
Michigan’s season is a bit head-scratching. On paper, they’re in contention for the NCAA title; but with how many times they’ve been really fast in season, who knows where they’ll be at come either Big Tens or NCAA’s.
Full meet results available here.
But the real question; how is Michigan’s Harlem Shake video?
21 year old freshman?! That’s fair.
The TEAM did not rest for the the ohio beat down. That was legit. And, justcurious, yup!
A 21 year old freshman with Olympic rings! Let the games begin! AND yes … they are dead set focused on NC’s. Really don’t see a weakness …
Although any BIG team wants to do well at their conference meet my guess is they will not focus on it with guys they KNOW are going to NCAA’s. I think their beat down of Ohio State a couple of weeks ago showed me they rested just a bit there to get some good times and show they could not be beat….but then will swim through the conference meet.
Anders was not tapered for this meet…they just wanted him to get in more racing because he was brought in at the semester. his real focus is NCAAs
hmmm…interesting. on the surface, yeah, i can see it being lame but i wonder. by using the first chance it might be away to have A or high B times for swimmers that can multi-event well to swing them over to events that they might not B-cut but can collect points. Interesting concept.
First chance is pretty lame.
This meet is really for the swimmers who won’t be swimming at Big 10s (mostly freshman).
Really strange. I hope Michigan doesn’t put their emphasis on Big10’s this year. They have a shot at the NCAA title, so why flub it up and go all out for Big10’s? I think that this is an indicator that Michigan is going for NCAA’s though. Big10 needs a title, they haven’t won it since 1996 if I’m not mistaken.
I think Nostradamus could be right. Maybe this is to give them 6 weeks now to go through one more cycle before they get to NCAA’s…
I wonder how much faster Michigan will swim at NCAAs.
Probably pretty fast, they are swimming at NCAAs after all.
If I had to guess…. cause It’s NCAA’s and all…they’ll swim fast…