Feb. 24, 2001
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Purdue men's swim team finished day three of the 2001 Big Ten Men's Swimming Championships with a total of 269 points and an eighth-place finish.
The Boilermakers started the evening with a great showing from senior Matt Martin in the 1650 freestyle. Martin finished fourth with a time of 14:56.22, an automatic bid `A-cut' to the NCAA Championships, two varsity records, two season-best times and two lifetime-best times. Martin broke his own varsity record in both the 1650 and the 1000 free with the same swim. His split time of 9:03.06 at the 1000 mark was three seconds faster than his previous record and his final time in the1650 was seven seconds faster than his previous record. Both records were recorded exactly a year ago, at the 2000 Big Ten Championships.
Also for the Old Gold and Black in the 1650, freshman Garth Bringman finished in 15:49.34 for 21st and a lifetime best in both the 1000 (9:32.95) and the 1650, as well. Junior Tom Drejer took 26th with a time of 16:00.84 for a season-best finish.
In the 200 back, senior Juan Rodela qualified for the consolation heat and finished 11th with a time of 1:46.99. Rodela's time was good enough for both a lifetime-best and an NCAA `B-cut' consideration time.
Junior Jon Duncan finished 10th with a time of 44.57 for a season-best in the 100 free. Duncan also qualified for an NCAA `B-cut' consideration time with his finish.
Freshman and 100 breast Big Ten champion Tamas Bessenyei finished eighth in the 200 breast with a time of 2:01.37. Bessenyei's time was also good enough for an NCAA `B-cut' consideration time, while sophomore teammate Mike Miller notched his own lifetime-best time with a 13th-place finish in 2:02.99. Sophomore Gui Rego also finished in the top 18 with 14th-place and a time of 2:03.00 for a season-best finish.
The Boilermakers were able to hold on at the end for eight-place overall, with a seventh-place finish in the 400 free relay. Team members junior Javier Diaz, senior David Weis, sophomore Jeremy Wright and Duncan tallied a time of 2:58.68. Swimming the first leg, Diaz also managed a season-best 100 free time of 45.07.
Purdue will return to the pool in March when those with NCAA `B-cuts' or automatic bids will head to the NCAA Men's Championships in College Station, Texas.
-P-