Nov. 19, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The 20th-ranked Boilermakers increased their point total and lead over No. 16 North Carolina during the second day of competition at the Nike Cup. Christine Leupold, Erica Chandler and Susan Hentschel highlighted Purdue's night, sweeping the top three spots in the 200 freestyle.
Leupold claimed the title with a time of 1:48.71. Chandler followed at 1:50.47 and Hentschel touched third at 1:51.63. Katharine Telfer and Lauren Wills also scored, placing 11th and 12th.
Purdue stands atop the leaderboard with 682.5 points, leading host UNC by 160 points (522.5). Kansas (393), Virginia Tech (384.5), Clemson (282), East Carolina (145) and Syracuse (142.5) round out the standings.
"We were fighting and scraping for points all night," said head coach Cathy Wright-Eger. "No one is giving up, as everyone has proven to be incredibly tough."
Wright-Eger was most impressed with her 100-yard stroke swimmers, three of whom reached the super finals. Following Thursday night's competitions, Wright-Eger wasn't sure if her team possessed enough depth in the 100 backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, but the Boilermakers managed to prove their coach wrong.
Carlene Takaki recorded a fourth-place time of 55.46 in the 100 butterfly, which was a lifetime best. Wright-Eger said that before this weekend Takaki had never broken the 56-second mark in the 100 fly.
"Carlene has experienced a 100 percent turnaround from where she was last weekend at Northwestern," said Wright-Eger. "Last week she was scared, this week she's angry about finishing fourth, she really wanted to win this race. Her responsiveness to these challenges has been encouraging."
Purdue had four swimmers score points in the 100 breast, led by freshman Jennifer Lavers' third-place showing of 1:03.32. Wright-Eger said Lavers took an extra half stroke near the wall, which may have cost her second place.
Jenae Gill finished fourth in the 100 back super finals at 57.03, but senior Brandy Keever posted the team's best time of 57.00, which made Wright-Eger take notice.
"I think Brandy is ready to make her move," said Wright-Eger. "She has really come on strong these last two days, and this experience will prepare her for the Big Ten Championships."
Purdue wrapped the night with a win in the 800 freestyle relay, completing the course with a season-best time of 7:25.86. Hentschel, swimming in the anchor position, lifted the relay from second to first place with her 200 free split of 1:50.67.
Freshman Lauren Willis swam a 1:51.20 in place of Leupold on the relay, and Telfer, who had earlier experienced an asthma attack, swam a 1:52.55. Telfer was going to be scratched, before convincing Wright-Eger she was ready to go.
The Nike Cup concludes Saturday with prelims beginning at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.