Feb. 26, 2000
ANN ARBOR, Mich.,--The Purdue men's swimming and diving team completed the 2000 Big Ten Championships in seventh-place with 240 points. The host Michigan Wolverines were crowned Big Ten champions after amassing 682 points, followed by Minnesota (601), Penn State (514), Indiana (376), Wisconsin (366) and Ohio State (315). The Boilers finished ahead of Iowa with 216 points, Northwestern (211) and Michigan State (119).
"We had a real solid performance from everyone. Matt Martin and Dan Kleber continued their top form tonight and we managed to hold our seventh-place position," said Purdue head coach Dan Ross. "Martin also received All-Big Ten honors, which is just reward for his outstanding effort throughout the championships."
In the 1,650-yard freestyle, Martin, a junior, swimming in his third event finals at the championships, placed third in 15:03.40, a Purdue varsity record. The effort also bested the previous pool record and qualifies Martin for the NCAA Championships March 23-25 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Kleber, a senior, qualified fourth in the 200-yard butterfly, before placing third in the finals in 1:46.15, missing an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships by .03 seconds. "I'm 99% sure that he will make it in as our second NCAA qualifier, along with Martin, after this performance," said Ross.
In the last event of the 2000 Big Ten Championships, the 400-yard freestyle relay, senior Kevin Cornehl touched-up for the Boilers in 3:01.08, good for eighth place. Sophomore Javier Diaz, junior David Weis and freshman Jeremy Wright preceded Cornehl's anchor leg in the event.
In consolation final action, Junior Juan Rodella finished fourth in the in the 200 backstroke (1:47.87), and 12th overall. Diaz jumped up two spots from qualifying to finish 13th in the 100 free in 45.03 and Gui Rego, a freshman, swam a 2:02.82 in the 200 breaststroke, .30 seconds slower than the season-best time he set earlier in the day. Finally, in the 1,650 free, sophomore Tom Drejer beat his previous best, a 15:57.86, with a 15.51.49 during the evening session.