February 27, 1999
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Purdue men's swimming and diving team placed eighth at the 1999 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships held in Bloomington, Ind. on Thursday-Saturday. Penn State won its first conference swimming and diving title with 600 points. Purdue finished eighth with 252 points. Minnesota took second (588), with Michigan (576.50), Wisconsin (375) and Indiana (324) rounding out the top five. Northwestern placed sixth (265.50), followed by Ohio State (261), Purdue, Iowa (204) and Michigan State (133).
The reign of three-time defending Big Ten 200 Breaststroke Champion Vilmos Kovacs came to an end today, as the Purdue senior finished fourth in a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:59.53. Kovacs had already qualified for the upcoming national championships when he recorded a 1:58.47; at that time the fastest 200 time in the nation at the Big Ten Quad Meet back on Jan. 30. Kovacs was Purdue's high-point scorer at this championships. Besides his fourth-place finish in the 200 breaststroke, the Tatabanya, Hungary, naitve placed third in the 100 breast, fifth in the 200 IM and swam a leg of the Boilers third place 200 medley and seventh place on the 800 free relay teams. For his efforts, he received a selection to the All-Big Ten All-Star Team.
In the 1650 freestyle, sophomore Matt Martin placed fourth in a NCAA provisional qualifying and season-best time of 15:29.11 to earn 15 points for the Boilers. Over the course of the championships, Martin also placed seventh in the 400 IM and and 10th in the 500 freestyle.
Sophomore Juan Rodela placed 14th in the 200 backstroke in a season-best time of 1:48.86.
In the 100 freestyle, freshman Javier Diaz placed 12th in a NCAA provisional qualifying and season-best time of 44.89 to earn five points for Purdue. Fellow freshman Jon Duncan placed 16th in a season-best swim of 45.30.
In the final event of the 89th annual Big Ten Championships, the 400 free relay, the Purdue team of Diaz, Duncan, junior Kevin Cornehl and senior Kirk Larsen placed eighth in a season-best time of 3:01.45.
The NCAA Championships will be held March 25-27 at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapoilis, Ind.
TEAM STANDINGS (AFTER THE THIRD DAY)
1. Penn State 600.00 2. Minnesota 588.00 3. Michigan 576.50 4. Wisconsin 375.00 5. Indiana 324.00 6. Northwestern 265.50 7. Ohio State 261.00 8. Purdue 252.00 9. Iowa 204.0010. Michigan State 133.00