Nov. 19, 2005
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Erica Chandler and Carlene Takaki both set new varsity records as the 21st-ranked Boilermakers extended their lead over No. 4 Florida during the second day of competition at the Purdue Invitational.
Purdue has scored 544 points, with six events left to go for Sunday. No. 17 Tennessee is second with 466 points and the Gators are third with 459 points. Rounding out the seven-team field is Missouri (322.5), Northwestern (322.5), Southern Illinois (156) and Missouri State (136).
Chandler began her Saturday by breaking Susan Wolfle's 14-year-old varsity record of 4:18.81 in the 400 individual medley. Chandler posted the fastest mark in prelims with a time of 4:18.73, breaking it once, then won the championship finals with a NCAA provisional mark of 4:16.89, to break it a second time.
Chandler broke both of Wolfle's varsity records this weekend. Friday, the native of Snohomish, Wash., erased Wolfle's mark of 4:48.11 in the 500 freestyle, with her time of 4:48.01.
Seven Boilermakers, including Chandler, scored in the 400 IM, helping Purdue get off to a fast and productive start. Finishing behind Chandler in the championship finals were Jennifer Merte and Stacie Lesneski, who finished third and fourth; and in the consolation finals, Yvonne Laaper, Lauren Hyman and Rory Belk grabbed three of the top four spots.
The Gators came back in the 100 fly with a one-two finish from Candace Weiman and Dana Vollmer. Takaki was the only Boilermaker to score in the championship final with her fifth-place and varsity record mark of 55.00.
Takaki's time broke an 11-year-old record of 55.09, which was set by former All-American Kim Fritsch.
Florida later outscored Purdue in the 200 freestyle and 100 back, but the Gators had little to no support in either the 100 breaststroke nor 3-meter diving.
With the Gators and Boilermakers slugging it out early, the Lady Vols quietly crept from third to second halfway through the session. Tennessee had three swimmers score among the top eight in the 200 free, and then won the 100 breast (Tiffany Clay), 100 back (Jacque Fessel) and 800 free relay in succession to close the meet.
During prelims, Tennessee's Fessel provided one of the biggest highlights of the meet, clocking a 54.05 in the 100 back, which is the fastest time in the country this season.
Neither the Vols or Gators had much of a presence in the 3-meter springboard competition, which was dominated by Northwestern and Purdue.
Wildcat freshman Chelsea Davis scored close to 70 points on her sixth and final dive to beat Boilermaker Carrie McCambridge for first place, 329.90 to 318.05. Boilermaker Amanda Miller was third with 295.55 points, and Wildcat Leanne Dumais placed fourth with 290.90 points.
Competition resumes at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center at 10 a.m. for prelims. Finals are slated to start at 4 p.m.