March 17, 2011
Preliminary Results | Dive-by-Dive Scoring
AUSTIN, Texas - Erin Mertz's 12th-place finish in the 1-meter diving highlighted the opening day of the NCAA Championships for Purdue women's swimming and diving Thursday.
Mertz took fourth in the consolation final of the 1-meter diving to finish 12th among 37 competitors in the national meet. She improved on her score from 284.15 in the preliminaries to 297.05 in the consolation final. She also improved her standing two spots after qualifying for the consolation final 14th overall in the preliminaries.
Among the Purdue swimmers, the 200 free relay team of Ariel Martin, Lisa Butler, Lauren Nichols and Lauren Gustafson placed 18th in the preliminaries to post the highest finish of the day. The Boilermakers finished two places short of qualifying for the evening finals.
Individually, Allie Smith was 32nd (of 57) in the 200 individual medley. Caitlin Hamilton placed 50th (of 62) in the 500 free. And Martin and Butler posted nearly identical times while taking 54th and 55th (of 61) in the 50 free.
The NCAA Championships continue Friday with preliminaries at noon and finals at 8 p.m. (times EDT). Emily Fogle and Kara Cook are also in Austin this weekend competing for Purdue.
Purdue Highlights
200 Free Relay Team (Martin, Butler, Nichols & Gustafson), 1:30.58 - Finished 18th in preliminaries
1-Meter Diving
Erin Mertz, 297.05 (284.15 prelims) - Finished 4th in consolation final & 12th overall
200 IM
Allie Smith, 1:59.88 - Finished 32nd in preliminaries
500 Free
Caitlin Hamilton, 4:47.06 - Finished 50th in preliminaries
50 Free
Ariel Martin, 23.06 - Finished 54th in preliminaries
Lisa Butler, 23.07 - Finished 55th in preliminaries