Nov. 19, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - As predicted by head coach Cathy Wright-Eger, the Boilermakers saved their best for last during the final day of competition Sunday at the Indiana Open Invitational.
Wins were scored by Carlene Takaki in the 200 fly (1:59.59) and Susan Hentschel in the 100 free (50.66).
"Susan was fantastic. She responded well to last night's team pep talk and I'm really proud of her, said Wright-Eger.
"Carlene was awesome in her best event, especially when you consider how much she swam this weekend. We had her in every relay, plus both fly events, the 200 IM and 100 back."
Hentschel with her NCAA provisional cut was one of four Boilermakers to place among the top eight in the 100 free. Freshman Leah Henninger was fifth with a personal best of 52.47; Kimbre Vogel placed sixth and Erin Gettings claimed eighth.
Purdue's deepest event was the 200 breastroke, in which four Boilermakers placed among the top eight and five in the top 10. A feat that Wright-Eger deemed phenomenal.
Jennifer Lavers posted the best Boilermaker time in the 200 breast, coming in second at 2:16.20.
The Boilermaker 400 free relays claimed the second and sixth places. The 'A' relay of Vogel, Katharine Telfer, Carlene Takaki and Susan Hentschel posted a mark of 3:26.81; the 'B' relay of Shannon Grace, Rachel Sitarz, Gettings and Henninger recorded a time of 3:31.96.
Purdue divers were solid off the platform tower. Emily Wetzel scored 230.80 points to place fifth and Zach Schultz earned runner-up honors with 279.35 points.
This weekend's meet was not scored but Wright-Eger felt her team matched up well with Indiana and Louisville.
"We're going to take these results home tonight and see who won. There were some very close races, and I think we were neck and neck with IU and Louisville."