WATCH: Liz Li Break Ohio State Record in 50 Free

2018 WOMEN’S B1G TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• February 14-17, 2018
• Columbus, Ohio
• McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion
• Live Results
• Championship Central
• Live Stream (BTN Plus subscription required)

After missing the fall semester of competition, Ohio State senior Liz Li didn’t miss a beat on Thursday at the 2018 Big Ten Championships, winning her 3rd-straight title in the women’s 50 free.

Below, check out a video of the race, courtesy Ohio State Athletics.

As reported by Karl Ortegon:

After missing the fall semester for Chinese national team duties, Ohio State‘s Liz Li is certainly back.

Li, a senior, won her third 50 free Big Ten title in a row tonight with a time of 21.28. In addition to winning by a sizable margin (the closest competitor in the final tonight was Minnesota’s Danielle Nack, who was 22.10), Li beat her best time and also tied for the sixth-best performance of all time.

Li’s previous personal best was a 21.29 from last year’s NCAA Championships, where she finished third. Her 21.28 tonight now ties American record holder and fastest-female-swimmer-in-yards Abbey Weitzeil for the sixth-fastest performance ever. Weitzeil also went a 21.28, albeit back in 2016, which is her own 2nd-fastest time ever.

See the top performances of all time, below.

50 YARD FREESTYLE TOP PERFORMANCES ALL-TIME

1. Abbey Weitzeil 21.12 (2016)
2. Simone Manuel 21.17 (2017)
3. Olivia Smoliga 21.21 (2016)
4. Olivia Smoliga/Lara Jackson 21.27 (2017/2009)
5. *
6. Abbey Weitzeil/Liz Li 21.28 (2016/2018)
7. Liz Li 21.29 (2017)

Li being in such good shape right now makes it look like Ohio State will be the heavy favorites in the 200 free relay. In addition to her, the Buckeyes had two more women in the 50 free A final at the Big Ten Champs tonight.