Gophers Swimming: Season bests plentiful as seventh ranked Gophers prove too much for hosting Hawkeyes
The Maroon Gold swam to victory against Big Ten rival Iowa on Friday with a final score of 174-126, keeping the Golden Gophers undefeated in conference duals. Senior leadership made an impact early with Kyler Van Swol, Derek Toomey and Luke Bushman each setting a season best time in their signature event.
In the 200 yard butterfly, Van Swol swam a NCAA b-cut qualifying time of 1:47.45; he also captured the meet’s top time in the 100 distance (48.40). Toomey swam to a season best and NCAA b-cut qualifying time in the 50-yard freestyle (19.97). Touching the wall first in both the 200-yard backstroke (1:47.39), a personal best and the 400-yard individual medley (3:56.43), Bushman proved a dual threat in Minnesota’s win.
Also impressive, the Golden Gophers captured the top three finishes in the 1000 and 500-yard freestyle swims lead by CJ Smith who earned a season best and first place finish in the former with a time of 1:08.98. The junior smashed his previous top time (9:18.51 vs. Florida) this season by nearly 10 seconds. Smith also took the top spot in the 500 (4:29.49) followed by teammates Ben Bravence (4:30.13) and Logan Redondo (4:32.83). Further, with a personal best time of 44.58 in the 100 yard freestyle, freshman Daryl Turner swam past his previous best of 44.65, from just last month.
Gopher diving fared well at both heights with sophomore Dylan Zoe finishing atop the three-meter earning a score of 334.20. In the one-meter, teammate Erik Larson took first place scoring a personal best of 325.95.
Minnesota wrapped up the meet with a victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay consisting of Turner, Van Swol, freshman Paul Fair and Toomey (2:58.62). They remain on the road for their next dual against North Dakota set for Saturday, Nov. 9 in Grand Forks for 12 p.m. CT start.