March 24, 2012
Saturday Results | Complete 3-Day Meet Results
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Matt Friede, Danny Tucker, Ben Wachtel and Ben Ziolkowski teamed up to represent Purdue men's swimming and diving in the second relay event of the NCAA Championships this week, placing 19th in the preliminaries Saturday to narrowly miss out on another set of All-America honors.
A top 16 finish in the 400 freestyle would have advanced the Boilers into the consolation final of the event Saturday evening. But Purdue finished with a time of 2:56.59, 1.71 seconds behind 16th-place Harvard.
Friede, Tucker and Wachtel had the option of competing individually in the 100 freestyle Saturday but the swimmers chose to forgo that opportunity to concentrate on the relay event.
Thursday, the Boilers earned Honorable Mention All-America recognition by qualifying for the consolation final of the 200 free relay.
Purdue's collegiate competition season ended Saturday but numerous Boilers will continue to train for the U.S. Olympic Trials this summer. A number of Purdue swimmers have already qualified for the Trials. More Boilers will look to punch their tickets to Omaha at next week's Purdue Invitational Grand Prix meet at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center. The long course meet is set for Thursday through Saturday.