Minnesota is in a tie for fourth place after two events at the 2004 Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, held at the University Aquatic Center. The Gophers took fourth in the 200 medley relay and sixth in the 800 freestyle relay in the event's first night. The Gophers scored 56 points, tying with Purdue and Iowa. Michigan leads the meet with 74 points while Wisconsin is second with 66 and Penn State is third with 64.

The 200 medley relay team of Meg an Moore, Mel issa Schold, Sar ah Bohlsen and Kat y Coombe posted a time of 1:42.94, good enough for fourth place. Penn State won the event in a Big Ten record time of 1:39.22.

The 800 free relay team of Coombe, Kat e Hardt, Val erie Tukey and Meg an Moore finished second in its heat and sixth overall in 7:19.14. Michigan won the event in a pool record time of 7:07.39.

"I thought we did a nice job in the 200 medley relay," head coach Jean Freeman said. "Katy (Coombe) anchored that race and it was one of our school's best races. Her split was faster then any other school's so we're very happy with the outcome."

The Golden Gophers will compete in the 500 free, the 200 individual medley and the 50 free tomorrow, with preliminaries starting at 11 a.m. Tukey and Hardt will be featured in tomorrow's 500 free, while Jul een Rodakowski will compete in the 200 IM. Minnesota look to Coombe, Bohlsen and Sar ah Perrott to lead Minnesota in the 50. Diving competition will start tomorrow at 1 p.m. Minnesota's entire diving team Abb ie Bowden, Reb ecca Cornthwaite, Hol ly Jakits and Sha nnon Jackson will all compete in 1-meter diving action.