Nov. 16, 2012
Friday Results: Prelims | Finals >>> Dive-by-Dive Scores >>> Photo Gallery 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue women's swimming and diving is in second place behind Louisville as the top team scores were very close after the opening day of action Friday at the Purdue Invitational.
The No. 20 Boilermakers trail No. 17 U of L by only 1 ½ points.
Carly Mercer led the way for the Purdue women by winning the 50 freestyle, placing third in the A final of the 200 IM and swimming the leadoff leg on the victorious 200 free relay, teaming up with Lauren Gustafson, Rhiannon Sheets and Lauren Nichols. She posted NCAA provisional qualifying times in each of her individual events.
The Purdue divers performed well on the opening day of the three-day weekend meet. Led by event winner Michelle Cabassol, the Boilers placed three of the top four in the 3-meter.
Mercer posted the third fastest time (22.75) in program history while winning the A final of the 50 free that featured five Boilermakers. Gustafson, Sheets and Anji Li also won their preliminary heats in the afternoon session to qualify for the A final along with Nichols.
Allie Davis was the runner-up in the A final of the 500 free. Megan Gallagher won the B final of the same event. Like the 50 free, the Purdue women had five swimmers score team points in the 500 free and 200 IM.
Jacie Beagle (C final of 200 IM) and Megan Roach (D final of 200 IM) also won an evening finals race. Preliminary heat winners included Lizzy Lyon (500 free) and Emily McIlrath (200 IM)
The Purdue Invitational continues Saturday with preliminaries at 10 a.m., diving at 1 p.m. and evening finals at 6 p.m.
Team Scores Through Friday's Events
Women
#17 Louisville, 302.5
#20 Purdue, 301
Utah, 128.5
Cincinnati, 65
Missouri State, 63
Southern Illinois, 53
#22 Michigan, 23 (Small Representation)
Purdue Winners & Notables
* = Purdue Season-Best Time/Score
(B) = NCAA Provisional Qualifying Time
(Z) = Zone Qualifying Score
50 Free
Carly Mercer, 22.75* (B) - Won A Final (20 Points), Won Heat 6 of Prelims... Third Fastest in Program History
Lauren Gustafson, 22.89 (B, Prelim Time) - Finished 5th in A Final (14 Points), Won Heat 4 of Prelims
Lauren Nichols, 23.23 (Prelim Time) - Finished 6th in A Final (13 Points)
Rhiannon Sheets, 23.39 - Finished 7th in A Final (12 Points), Won Heat 3 of Prelims
Anji Li, 23.64 - Finished 8th in A Final (11 Points), Won Heat 2 of Prelims
500 Free
Allie Davis, 4:49.07 (Prelim Time) - Finished 2nd in A Final (17 Points), Won Heat 3 of Prelims
Lizzy Lyon, 4:55.39 (Prelim Time) - Finished 7th in A Final, (12 Points) Won Heat 4 of Prelims
Megan Gallagher, 4:49.63 - Won B Final (9 Points)
Caitlin Hamilton, 4:54.68 - Finished 3rd in B Final (6 Points)
Nika Petric, 4:56.74 - Finished 5th in B Final (4 Points)
200 IM
Carly Mercer, 2:01.59* (B) - Finished 3rd in A Final (16 Points)
Francesca Marr, 2:04.45 - Finished 7th in A Final (12 Points)
Alex Todd, 2:04.80 - Finished 8th in A Final (11 Points)
Stephanie Schlobohm, 2:03.90 - Finished 2nd in B Final (7 Points)
Emily McIlrath, 2:05.04 - Finished 4th in B Final (5 Points), Won Heat 4 of Prelims
Amy Katz, 2:06.10 - Finished 6th in B Final (3 Points)
Jacie Beagle, 2:05.07 - Won C Final
Megan Roach, 2:08.96 - Won D Final
200 Free Relay
Mercer, Gustafson, Sheets & Nichols, 1:30.66* - Event Winner (40 Points)
Li, Vogel, Marshall & Fozkos, 1:34.12 - Won Heat 2
400 Medley Relay
Katz, McIlrath, Todd & Gustafson, 3:45.18 -- Finished Third (32 Points)
Beagle, Marr, Sheets & Nichols, 3:43.03* -- Won Heat 2
3-Meter Diving
Michelle Cabassol, 342.40* (Z) - Won Event (20 Points)
Maddie Miskulin, 320.75 (Prelim Score) - Finished 3rd (16 Points)
MacKenzie Tweardy, 297.25 (Z) - Finished 4th (15 Points)