Led by a strong showing in the 200-yard individual medley, the Northwestern men’s swimming and diving team finished the first day of the Big Ten championships in fourth place.

NU sophomore Tony Swanson won the 200 IM in a school-record and Big Ten meet-record time of 1:45.64. The time was more than a second better than the second-place finisher and clinched a spot for Swanson at NCAAs.

Sophomore Mark Hamming and junior Kellan O’Connor took third and fifth in the same race, securing B-cut times for the national meet.

The three swimmers combined for 50 points to push NU into third place, although Penn State overtook the Wildcats in the following event. Prior to this weekend, the Cats set a goal of taking third at the meet.

As expected, No. 6 Minnesota is in first with No. 10 Michigan right behind. Minnesota has 197 points, the Wolverines are at 169, the No. 20 Nittany Lions at 157 and NU is at 134.

No. 16 Wisconsin, the only team to beat NU in a dual meet this year, is in seventh place with 94 points.

Competition continues today and Saturday at Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington, Ind.