Feb. 26, 2014
| Live Diving Scores | Championship Meet Central
Watch (PPV): Wednesday Night Thru Saturday Morning | Saturday Night Finals
ANN ARBOR, Mich -- Purdue men's swimming and diving opened the Big Ten Championships by posting the second-fastest times in program history in a pair of relay events, but learned after the race that the 800 freestyle relay team was disqualified by a technicality.The Boilermakers' 200 medley relay team of Stephen Seliskar, Lyam Dias, Austin Flager and Danny Tucker finished eighth among a fast field with a time of 1:27.10. In program history, only the 2009 team of Tim Watts, Aaron Koger, Andrew Langenfeld and Dan Jung was faster in the event.
Purdue had a time of 6:29.03 to take seventh in the 800 free relay. But the Boilers were disqualified after a meet official ruled that a manufacturer's logo on a suit worn by a Purdue swimmer in the event was too large, making the suit illegal.
"Both relays were our second best times in program history," Purdue head coach Dan Ross said. "Unfortunately, we lost the points for the 800 free relay due to an oversized manufacturer's logo on one of our suits. I should have caught it. The guys are handling it well though, knowing we have some great swims coming tomorrow through Saturday. The divers were also in the meeting where we spoke about this. I fully expect a very focused group of swimmers and divers on deck tomorrow."
Filip Bujoczek, Luke Trimmer, Guillermo Blanco and Matt Friede represented Purdue in the 800 free relay. Only the 2011 quartet of Ben Wachtel, Andrew Starr, Brian Kiel and Drew Wolfred had a faster time in program history. Trimmer led the way with a 200 free split of 1:36.63 Wednesday.
Purdue had to forfeit the 24 team points it earned in the 800 free relay due to the disqualification. Instead of finishing the night in seventh place with 46 points, the Boilers slipped to 10th with 22 points.
A non-scoring exhibition competition of synchronized 3-meter diving was also held Wednesday, but Purdue did not enter a duo in the event.
The Big Ten Championships continue Thursday with preliminaries at 11 a.m. and finals at 6:30 p.m.
Opening Night Events
* -- New Purdue Season-Best Time
(B) -- NCAA Provisional Qualifying Time
200 Medley Relay
Seliksar, Dias, Flager & Tucker, 1:27.10* (B) - Finished 8th (22 Points)
800 Free Relay
Bujoczek, Trimmer, Blanco & Friede, DQ due to oversized suit logo
Opening Night Team Scores
1. #2 Michigan, 80
2. #7 Ohio State, 64
3. #25 Penn State, 62
4. #6 Indiana, 60
5. Wisconsin, 58
6. #11 Minnesota, 54
7. Iowa, 44
8. Northwestern, 42
9. Michigan State, 36
10. #22 Purdue 22