March 30, 2014
Saturday Results: Prelims | Finals | Dive-by-Dive Scoring
AUSTIN, Texas -- Honorable Mention All-America recognition for juniors Lyam Dias and Nate Cox in the 200 breaststroke and platform diving, respectively, highlighted the final day of action at the NCAA Championships for Purdue men's swimming and diving.
Dias became the Boilers' first swimmer to earn All-America honors in an individual event since Sam Wilcher (200 butterfly) in 2010. Cox joined fellow divers Jamie Bissett and Layne Rogers among the Purdue's All-America honorees this week. It marked the first time the program had four student-athletes earn All-America acclaim in individual events since having five honorees in 2010.
Bissett, Cox, Dias and Rogers teamed up to account for 21 team points. The Boilermakers finished 27th among the 48 scoring teams at the national championship meet. California (468.5 points) won its third national title in the last four years.
Dias and Cox both qualified for consolation finals Saturday to earn their first career All-America honors. Dias took third in the consolation final of the 200 breast, placing 11th overall in the event. He accounted for six team points after posting a time of 1:53.58 in the finals.
Cox was eighth in the consolation final of platform diving, placing 16th overall with a score of 333.60 in the finals.
Purdue was also represented by Sean Mokhtari in platform diving Saturday. The junior placed 21st in the prelims. The 400 free relay team of Austin Flager, Matt Friede, Guillermo Blanco and Danny Tucker finished 24th in the prelims.
The Boilermakers will have to bid adieu to a group of seniors, including three-time NCAA Championships qualifiers Friede and Tucker, but are scheduled to return eight of the 10 student-athletes that represented the program at the national championship meet this year.
Purdue Results
Saturday, March 29
200 Breast
Lyam Dias, 1:53.58 (Prelim Time) - Finished 3rd in Consolation Final (6 Points); Honorable Mention All-America
Platform Diving
Nate Cox, 333.60 - Finished 8th in Consolation Final (1 Point); Honorable Mention All-America
Sean Mokhtari, 296.40 - Finished 21st in Prelims
400 Free Relay
Flager, Friede, Blanco & Tucker, 2:55.50 - Finished 24th in Prelims
200 Back
Guillermo Blanco, Scratched from Race