Nelson crowned Big Ten champion in record-breaking fashion

Thursday, February 21

Bloomington, IN

10 a.m. / 5:30 p.m. (CT)

Wisconsin Badgers

Big Ten Championships

Photo by: Deb Lindsey

Nelson crowned Big Ten champion in record-breaking fashion

February 21, 2019 | Women's Swimming & Diving

Beata Nelson clocks in at 1:52.27 to win 200 individual medley

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – You know the name, you know the face, and you've seen Wisconsin junior Beata Nelson atop the Big Ten podium before.

But never in the 200-yard individual medley – until Thursday.

Neck and neck with Michigan's Siobahn Haughey, Nelson willed her way to a Big Ten championship in the 200 IM that clocked in at 1 minute, 52.27 seconds, breaking her previous conference record set earlier in the day by a full second.

"I've definitely had some fire in me since last year, especially in that 200 IM," Nelson said. "I knew that it was going to be a great race."

Even for Nelson, who claimed the third Big Ten title of her career, touching first isn't a given.

"I finished at the wall and saw all of the Badger fans and my teammates cheering, so I knew that was a good sign," Nelson said. "And then I looked up and saw my time, and it was just an awesome feeling."

Nelson also grouped up with teammates Kathleen Coughlin, Kelsi Artim and Emmy Sehmann on the 400 medley relay team that finished in 3:31.17, good for third.

Sehmann placed eighth in the 50 free, touching the wall in 22.73.

Senior Jess Unicomb was the Badgers' 14th-place finisher in the 200 IM (1:58.29), while freshman Jenna Silvestri finished 24th with a personal-best mark of 1:59.87.

Touching the wall in 4:46.79, senior Sydney Lofquist finished 22nd after qualifying for the 500 free finals.

Sitting at fifth place in the team standings, the Badgers will resume competition Friday with racing getting underway at 10:30 a.m. (CT), followed by finals at 5:30 p.m.

Friday's events include the 100 fly, 400 individual medley, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 200 free relay and 3-meter diving.

"I think we are in a great position right now," Nelson said. "The team morale is better than it's ever been."