Prelims at day two of the men's 2017 Big Ten Championships in Columbus, Ohio, reinforced Wednesday night's super-fast performances, demonstrating that the Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan Wolverines will make this showdown one for the ages.

500-YARD FREESTYLE

​Big Ten Record: 4:08.60 (Peter Vanderkaay - Michigan, 2006)
Meet Record: 4:12.37 (Peter Vanderkaay - Michigan, 2006)
NCAA "A" Automatic: 4:13.22
2016 Invited: 4:17.73

After Michigan's Felix Auboeck and Wisconsin's Matt Hutchins both split 1:31 on their 800 freestyle relays on Wednesday, we expected to see some fast 500s from them. This morning, the Viennese Freshman Auboeck led the field in 4:13.36, followed by Hutchins in 4:14.26. Indiana's Marwan El Kamash was third in 4:15.00. Normally flooded with maize and blue, the top eight of the 500 freestyle for tonight only has two Wolverines. Both Indiana and Ohio State also have a pair in the event.

1.) Felix Auboeck (Michigan): 4:13.36
2.) Matthew Hutchins (Wisconsin): 4:14.26
3.) Marwan El Kamash (Indiana): 4:15.00
4.) Brayden Seal (OSU): 4:15.11
5.) Jackson Miller (Indiana): 4:15.24
6.) Patrick Ransford (Michigan): 4:15.78
7.) Jordan Wilimovsky (Northwestern): 4:16.30
8.) Joseph Long (OSU): 4:16.67

200 IM

Big Ten Record: 1:41.14 (Kyle Whitaker - Michigan, 2014)
Meet Record: 1:41.14 (Kyle Whitaker - Michigan, 2014)
NCAA "A" Automatic: 1:42.15
2016 Invited: 1:44.41

Indiana's Vini Lanza took this morning's top spot in the 200 IM with a 1:43.29. Behind him was teammate Ian Finnerty (1:43.33), who went half a second faster than at Big Tens last year. Wisconsin's ​Brett Pinfold just missed a new school record this morning in 1:43.76. Last year's runner-up, Evan White of Michigan, came in fifth but was over a second slower than his time in 2016. Look for him to make a move tonight. Indiana may have the top two spots this morning, but the points advantage will undoubtedly go to Michigan with four swimmers in the A final and four in the B final.

1.) Vini Lanza (Indiana): 1:43.29
2.) Ian Finnerty (Indiana): 1:43.33
3.) Brett Pinfold (Wisconsin): 1:43.76
4.) Jacob Montague (Michigan): 1:44.12
5.) Evan White (Michigan): 1:44.30
6.) Blake Pieroni (Indiana ): 1:44.46
7.) Jakub Maly (Minnesota): 1:44.58
8.) Christopher Klein (Michigan): 1:44.65

50 FREESTYLE

Big Ten Record: 18.85 (Paul Powers - Michigan, 2016)
Meet Record: 18.85 (Paul Powers - Michigan, 2016)
NCAA "A" Automatic: 19.09
2016 Invited: 19.53

Indiana's Ali Khalafalla came a hair away from breaking the ever-important 19-second barrier, going 19.00. His split on Wednesday night of 18.43 seems in line with his time today, so keep your fingers crossed that he gets under and joins the 18 club. Last year's Big Ten champion, Paul Powers, was second after this morning (19.26); however, he is the current record-holder, so keep your eyes on the middle two lanes tonight. In fourth was Wisconsin's Cannon Clifton with a new school record of 19.44, touching just behind Minnesota's Bowen Becker (19.34). In total the Hoosiers have two up and two down, while Michigan only has one up.

1.) Ali Khalafalla (Indiana): 19.00
2.) Paul Powers (Michigan): 19.26
3.) Bowen Becker (Minnesota): 19.34
4.) Cannon Clifton (Wisconsin): 19.44
5.) Matt McHugh (OSU): 19.59
6.) Mossimo Chavez (OSU): 19.59 
7.) Shane Ryan (PSU): 19.63
8.) Samuel Lorentz (Indiana): 19.70