March 23, 2013
Saturday Results: Prelims | Finals >>> Dive-by-Dive Scoring
INDIANAPOLIS -- Purdue women's swimming and diving competed in four events on the final day of the NCAA Championships Saturday, finishing in 19th place among the 43 scoring teams at the national championship meet.Carly Mercer's personal season-best 100 free split of 49.02 while leading off the 400 free relay highlighted the day for the Boilers. She improved on her third-fastest time in program history. Lauren Gustafson, Lauren Nichols and Rhiannon Sheets were also part of Purdue's 400 free relay team that finished 21st in the prelims. Gustafson also had a strong split at 49.11.
Michelle Cabassol's 20th-place finish in the prelims of platform diving was the Boilers' top individual showing of the final day of NCAAs. The Purdue divers, Casey Matthews and Cabassol, accounted for the team's 44 points at the three-day national championship meet, highlighted by Matthews' national championship title in 3-meter diving Friday night.
Sheets and Gustafson also competed individually Saturday. Sheets was 34th in the prelims of the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:58.66. Gustafson placed 54th in the prelims of the 100 free with a time of 49.94.
The Boilermakers will have to bid adieu to a number of talented and accomplished seniors, including Gustafson and Nichols, but are scheduled to return many experienced swimmers and divers for the 2013-14 season. Six of the eight team members that competed at NCAAs this week will be back, including Cabassol, Matthews and Sheets.
Purdue Entries on Day Three of NCAAs
Platform Diving
Michelle Cabassol, 240.45 -- Finished 20th in Prelims
400 Free Relay
Mercer, Gustafson, Nichols & Sheets, 3:18.73 - Finished 21st in Prelims
200 Fly
Rhiannon Sheets, 1:58.66 - Finished 34th in Prelims
100 Free
Lauren Gustafson, 49.94 - Finished 54th in Prelims