Feb. 15, 2012

• Wednesday Results

MADISON, Wis.  - As the opening event of the 2012 Big Ten Championships, the Badger women's 200 medley relay just wanted to get things off to a good start for the rest of the team. Consider it mission accomplished.

Amie Osten, Ashley Wanland, Rebecka Palm, and Beckie Thompson combined to earn a Big Ten Championship, netting a pool-record and an NCAA `B' qualifying time of 1:37.34 in the process.

"The medley relay was great. Any time you win a Big Ten Championship it's a job well done and we're very pleased with that," said head coach Whitney Hite.

Not to be outdone, the 800 free relay team of Laura Miller, Aja Van Hout, Danielle Beckwith, and Palm posted a great finish of their own, placing third. Their time of 7:07.18 was good for both a Wisconsin school record and NCAA `B' qualifying time.

"You can't draw it up any better than that," Hite said. "It's faster than we've ever been in the history of the program, and I'm just really proud of the girls."

Their performance boosted the Badgers to 72 points, leading second-place Indiana 72-68.

 "We were hoping to be in first-place after the first night, and we're right there," Hite said. "Tomorrow we have another really good chance to go out and score some points, so we'll try to keep it rolling."

Competition resumes tomorrow at 11:00 with the 500 free, 200 IM, and 50 free prelims on tap.