INDIANAPOLIS -- Kaersten Meitz's new program record in the 1,000 freestyle was among the five season-best times posted by Purdue swimmers while representing the Big Ten squad at the inaugural USA College Challenge.
The U.S. National Team was a 349-247 winner in the combined co-ed dual meet scoring. The Boilermakers were represented by Marat Amaltdinov, Adam Noens, Emmy Rawson and Meitz. They accounted for a combined six points while competing in eight events.
Meitz's time of 9:38.70 in the 1,000 free Sunday eclipsed Caitlin Hamilton's record time of 9:41.87 that had stood since the 2010 NCAA Championships at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center. Coincidentally, Hamilton is now an assistant coach at IUPUI, which is the home team at the IU Natatorium in Downtown Indianapolis where the USA College Challenge was held this weekend. Meitz is also the program record holder in the 500 free.
Amaltdinov kept pace with national teamers Nic Fink and Cody Miller in the 200 breaststroke Saturday, finishing in third place for the top showing by a Boilermaker at the two-day meet. He was the Big Ten's top finisher in the event. Amaltdinov posted new Purdue season-best scores in the 100 (54.90) and 200 breast (1:55.56), improving on his NCAA provisional-qualifying times (B cuts) in both events.
Noens was the first Boilermaker this season to compete in the 400 individual medley. He finished fourth with a time of 3:56.09. The Big Ten had three of top four finishers in the event.
Meitz also competed in the 500 free Saturday. Her time of 4:44.59 was a new Purdue season best and improved B cut.
Rawson competed in the first and final events of the meet, racing as part of the 400 medley and 400 free relays. She swam the butterfly leg on the medley foursome and the anchor leg on freestyle relay. Amaltdinov (medley) and Meitz (freestyle) were also part of a relay.
Purdue's swimmers and divers both close out their fall-semester competition schedules this coming week. The divers will be Indianapolis this weekend at IUPUI's House of Championships Invitational (Nov. 18-20). The swimmers make the long trip east to the H2Okie Fall Invitational hosted by Virginia Tech (Nov. 17-19).