The University of Minnesota captured its second consecutive Big Ten Championships title yesterday with a final point total of 562.50. In second was the University of Michigan which finished with 501 points.

Canada's Shannon Shakespeare who is a member of the Michigan team, won the Swimmer of the Meet award. Shannon managed to win 3 individual events all in meet and conference record times, the 100 free in 48.90 the 200 free in 1:46.37 and the 200 IM in 1:57.66. She was also a member of 3 winning relay teams for Michigan at these Championships, the 200 and 400 free relays and the 400 medley relay.

Other awards handed out at the meet were as follows: Swimmer of the Meet: Shannon Shakespeare, Michigan
Diver of the Meet: Sara Reiling, Indiana
Swimming Coach of the Meet: Bill Dorenkott, Penn State
Diving Coach of the Meet: Vince Panzano, Ohio State
All Big Ten at Large:
Jennifer Cristy, Indiana
Kelsey Hegner, Minnesota
Terri Jashinsky, Minnesota

Final Point Total
1. Minnesota 562.50
2. Michigan 501
3. Northwestern 459
4. Penn State 435
5. Wisconsin 423.50
6. INDIANA 330
7. Illinois 258.50
8. Iowa 232
9. Purdue 206
10. Ohio State 196.50
11. Michigan State 95

Courtesy: University of Minnesota
Using its superior depth in all events, the Minnesota women's swimming and diving team repeated as Big Ten champions at the IU Natatorium. The Gophers won the meet with 562.5 points, despite winning one of 20 events in the meet. Michigan finished second with 501 points, followed by Northwestern with 459 points.

The women's swimming and diving team is the 12th team in Minnesota history to win a Big Ten championship, and the second to repeat as Big Ten champions. The women's gymnastics team won consecutive Big Ten championships in 1988 and 1989.

"It is an incredible accomplishment for this team," said Minnesota head coach Jean Freeman. "It is much more difficult to repeat, and the depth in this conference is getting better and better. I am so happy for this team."

Minnesota's top finisher on Saturday night was Kelsey Hegener. The senior finished second in the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:15.23, behind Northwestern's Amy Balcerzak (2:12.40). Hegener was the only Gopher to finish as high as second place in two events in the meet, as she finished second in the 100 breaststroke on Friday. Hegener joined teammates Terri Jashinsky and Katy Christoferson on the all-conference team.

The Gophers were the top scoring team in two events on the final night. Minnesota scored 33 points in the 200 breaststroke, led by Hegener's second-place finish, and 38 points in the 200 butterfly. Gopher seniors Jenny Hennen and Jashinsky finished 3-4 in the 200 butterfly.

Michigan pulled to within 18.5 points of Minnesota with three events remaining, but the Gophers outscored the Wolverines 71-18 in the 200 breaststroke and the 200 butterfly to clinch the team title.

Courtesy: University of Michigan
Senior All-American Shannon Shakespeare (Winnipeg, Manitoba) of the University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team was named Swimmer of the Championship at the 2000 Big Ten Conference Championships. The 17-time All-American turned in four record-breaking performances while winning three individual events and contributing to three relay victories to help the Wolverines to a runner-up team finish.

On Thursday (Feb. 17), Shakespeare was a part of two records. First, she won the 200-yard individual medley in an all-time Big Ten record mark of 1:57.66. In doing so, she became just the sixth swimmer to win a Big Ten Championships event four consecutive years. She also was part of a first-place 400-yard medley relay squad that finished in a meet-record time of 3:39.80.

Friday's (Feb. 18) action witnessed Shakespeare set the all-time Big Ten record with her first-place performance in the 200-yard freestyle, finishing in 1:46.37. In relay competition, she was part of a team that finished second in the 200-yard medley relay, clocking in with an NCAA consideration time of 1:42.00.

On the third and final day of the Big Ten Championships (Saturday, Feb. 19), Shakespeare's record-setting week concluded with a win in the 100-yard freestyle in 48.90. Her preliminaries time of 48.80 broke the previous record set by former U-M swimmer and current undergraduate assistant coach Jennie Eberwein in 1998 (49.07). Shakespeare also helped the Wolverines win the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, with an NCAA consideration time of 3:19.44.

This marks the first time in her career that she has been named Swimmer of the Championship. In 1997, she was named co-Swimmer of the Year as a freshman.

Shakespeare led a group of five Michigan swimmers who earned all-conference honors by either winning an individual event or swimming on a victorious relay team.