By: Nate Gotlieb

The Gophers men's swimming and diving team improved its position at the Big Ten championships Friday, but it trails Michigan, Indiana and Ohio State heading into the final day of the event in Bloomington, Ind.

Minnesota began Friday in fifth place but moved into fourth after three top-10 finishes in the 100-yard breaststroke. Sophomore Max Cartwright finished third in the event, followed by senior captain Jared Anderson (fourth) and senior Josh Hall (seventh).

Michigan leads the championships with 601 team points and has won more than half the events, including three Friday. The No. 3 Wolverines are in position to claim their third consecutive Big Ten championship.

Second-place Indiana (464 points) won two events Friday, and third-place Ohio State (335) earned one title. Minnesota (247) and Purdue (216) round out the top five.

Gophers senior diver Mikey Ross took fourth in the 3-meter dive and set a school record in the event. Sophomore diver Jordan Lesser finished sixth.

Seven events remain in the championships, which run through Saturday night at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington.