Friday morning's competition brought out the best performance from the Gophers thus far in the Big Ten Championships. The home team came well prepared and their fierce drive was noticed from the first event.

The 400 IM started things off today, and with a time of 4:26.41, Carol Crouthamel took 15th place. She will compete in the consolation finals this evening.

The best performances from the Gophers thus far today came in the 100 breaststroke in which four swimmers qualified to compete in evening session. Senior Melissa Schold led the way capturing fifth place with a B-cut time of 1:02.30. Bridget McCoy, who finished first in her heat, took ninth place overall in a time of 1:04.20 and will compete in the consolation finals. Teammates Julia Quinn (1:04.48) and Erika Bjorklund (1:04.71) earned 12th and 15th places respectively. They will compete in the consolation finals, also taking place this evening.

Furthermore, in the 100 butterfly, senior Sarah Bohlsen captured a B-cut time of 54.62, enough for a fifth place finish. Juleen Rodakowski followed close behind finishing in sixth place with a B-cut time of 55.01. Both will compete in tonight's finals in this event. Also participating in the 100 fly was senior Colleen Morgan who finished first in her heat and 20th overall with a time of 56.29.

Megan Moore earned an eighth place finish in 100 backstroke in a B-cut time of 56.08. Finishing in 13th place was teammate Katie Wind, clocking a time of 56.73. Moore's time allows her to participate in the finals of the 100 back this evening. Wind will compete in the consolation finals.

Three Gopher divers advanced to the semi-finals round of the 3 M competition this afternoon. Rebecca Cornthwaite earneda seventh place finish with a score of 274.80. Just behind in eighth place was Shannon Jackson (272.50) and Abbie Bowden finished 15th (238.45). Cornthwaite and Jackson remained in the top eight finishes at the conclusion of this afternoon's session and therefore, will compete in tonight's 3 M diving finals.

The finals of today's events resume this eveing at 7 p.m. at the University Aquatic Center.