Feb. 18, 2004
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Purdue's women's swimming and diving team is tied for fourth place with Iowa and host Minnesota after one day of competition at the Big Ten Championships. The Boilermakers totaled 56 points, finishing sixth in the 200-yard medley relay and fourth in the 800 freestyle relay.
Purdue's time of 1:43.14 in the 200 medley relay was a season best, while its mark of 7:18.64 in the 800 free relay established a new varsity record. The previous school record of 7:19.94 was posted at last year's conference championships by Lisa Dolansky, Jenni Bean, Christine Leupold and Erica Chandler.
Brandy Keever, Chandler and Leupold all recorded lifetime bests with their relay splits in the 200 medley. Chandler then recorded a lifetime best in the 800 free relay with her split of 1:47.58, as did freshman Susan Hentschel, who clocked a split of 1:49.02. Leupold and Bean led off the relay with splits of 1:49.45 and 1:52.59.
Keever's, Chandler's and Leupold's lifetime best split times in the 200 medley were clocked at 26.76, 29.01 and 24.70. Anchor Tracy Duchac nearly recorded a personal best, with her clip of 22.67.
"I'm very proud of both relay teams' performances, considering all the new people we had to utilize," said head coach Cathy Wright-Eger. "We had a great first day, and I'm excited about what we'll see the rest of the way. We will definitely come back tomorrow ready to go."
Michigan leads with 74 points, and Wisconsin and Penn State are tied for second with 66 points. Michigan State is behind Purdue with 36, while archrival Indiana is in sixth with 32 points.
Wright Eger said that the amount of false starts in both relays had a profound effect on the standings. Indiana, Illinois and Ohio State were all disqualified in the 200 medley relay, and Northwestern was penalized in the 800 free relay.
Purdue resumes competition Thursday at 11 a.m. CST with preliminary events in the 500-yard free, 200-yard IM, 50-yard free, and one-meter diving. Complete meet results can be accessed through the Big Ten's web site at www.bigten.org.