Feb. 20, 2009
The Purdue women's swimming and diving team broke four school records and two more freshman records Friday at the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich.
"We had another great night with school records in the 400 medley relay, 100 back, 100 fly and 3-meter diving," head coach John Klinge said. "Our divers once again did a great job, and Allie Smith broke the 100 back school record three times today."
Smith earned the third school record during her time as a Boilermaker while finishing sixth in the 100-yard backstroke. The sophomore from Green Bay, Wis., who on Thursday added the 200 IM school record to her 200 backstroke record set last year, finished sixth in Friday's final with her time of 53.84 that just missed the NCAA `A' standard.
Junior Ashley Karnes also broke her second school record in as many days. After winning the conference title off the 1-meter board Thursday, Karnes finished second in the 3-meter competition with her score of 385.35 points that broke Carrie McCambridge's record of 380.5 scored in 2006.
Katie Beck broke a school record by finishing the 100 butterfly in 54.26 while finishing 12th in the final. Beck, a sophomore from Brecksville, Ohio, took down Carlene Takaki's record of 54.29 set in 2006. Beck also finished 17th in the preliminary round of the 100 backstroke and moved to third on Purdue's all-time performance list in the event with her time of 55.19.
Purdue's 400 medley relay quartet of Smith, Jessica Davis, Beck and Ariel Martin eclipsed the school record by touching the wall in 3:40.29. The time betters the previous school record of 3:41.12 set in 2002 and the NCAA `B' standard.
Kristen Gilson took down an 18-year-old freshman record and moved to second on Purdue's all-time performance list in the 400 IM with her time of 4:18.76. The Plano, Texas, native broke Susan Wolfle's 1991 record of 4:18.81 while finishing 18th. Lauren Roth also broke a freshman record as her preliminary time of 1:49.26 in the 200 freestyle eclipsed the previous record, set by Erica Chandler in 2003, of 1:49.62. Roth finished 22nd in the final after touching the wall in 1:49.87.
Senior Emily Wetzel moved to seventh on Purdue's all-time performance list in the 3-meter competition with her score of 318.75 that placed sixth. Freshman Casey Matthews scored 334.35 points and won the consolation final while moving to fifth on the school's all-time performance list in the 3-meter.
Junior co-captain Leah Henninger placed 16th in the 200 freestyle with her time of 1:49.61. The Dayton, Ohio, native swam a season-best time of 1:48.44 in the afternoon session.
In the afternoon session, the Boilermakers earned 14 more season-best times including four each in the 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Co-captain Christine Inman finished the 100 butterfly in 55.53, while Lisa Butler touched the wall in 56.26. Morgan Lebsack swam a time of 56.78, and Allison Frisbie finished in 1:01.26. Martin swam to a time of 1:49.51 in the 200 freestyle and was followed by Amy Gutwein in 1:51.72, Jessica Skiba in 1:54.43 and Elyse Dudar in 1:55.04.
Davis led Purdue in the 100 breaststroke with her time of 1:03.87. Sarah Dunleavy was the next Boilermaker in 1:05.40 and was followed by Christina Jacobs, who was Purdue's sportsmanship award recipient, in 1:05.69 and Susanne Fawcett in 1:08.09. Elizabeth Holmes and Sara Bogert each earned season-best times of 59.71 and 1:00.96, respectively, in the 100 backstroke.
The Boilermakers are sixth with 219 points following the third day of competition. Indiana leads the team race with 529 points. The Big Ten Championships conclude Saturday inside Canham Natatorium with the 1,650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, platform diving and the 400 freestyle relay. Live results can be found at purduesports.com.