As the No. 8 University of Minnesota women's swimming and diving team gears up for the Big Ten Championships, which start Thursday, the Golden Gophers are highly ranked in the psych sheets. Minnesota enters Big Tens with the fastest times in eight events. Along with the Gophers holding the top spot in eight events, Minnesota follows with three of the second-fastest times in the 200 free relay, the 200 medley relay and the 1,650 free.

Yuen Kobayashi is ranked first in the 500 free, while teammate Christine Jennings is right behind her in second. Minnesota has the three fastest times in the 200 free, with jenny Shaughnessy (1:46.77), Kobayashi (1:47.42) and Meredith McCarthy (1:47.59). Jillian Tyler enters the meet with the fastest time in the 100 breast (59.82) and the 200 breast (2:10.44), while Stacy Busack and McCarthy hold the top two spots in the 100 free (49.26 and 49.85).

On the relay sides, Minnesota is ranked first in the 400 medley relay and the 800 free relay and rank second in the 200 free relay and the 200 medley relay.

Minnesota will look for its quest to win the Big Ten Championships on Thursday in Columbus, Ohio. Prelims begin at 11 a.m., followed by diving at 1 p.m. and finals at 6:30 p.m.