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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Freshmen James Boone, Joe Gardner and Jackson Higgins earned the final three spots on the roster for the Big Ten Championships based on their performances at Purdue men's swimming's first chance meet Saturday and Sunday at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center.
The Boilermakers competed against a select group of swimmers from Indiana along with other single entries from schools like the University of Indianapolis, Lewis University and Centre College (Ky.). The two-day meet featured prelims, finals and Sunday time trials. Team scores were not kept.
"We averaged almost three percent drops in individual season-best times, which is by far the best we have ever done for a meet leading up to Big Tens," Purdue head coach Dan Ross said. "Congrats to all of our first chance participants for their performances. It was super close in determining who the three additions to the Big Ten roster would be."
Boone posted times in the 50 (20.60, 5th), 100 (44.79, 2nd) and 200 freestyle (1:39.90) that all ranked among the top five on the team this season. Gardner did the same in the 100 free (45.24, 4th), 100 breaststroke (54.78, 2nd) and 200 individual medley (1:48.75, 2nd). Higgins registered a new Purdue season-best time in the 500 free (4:25.96) and the second-fastest mark in the 200 free (1:38.35).
Tim Barth, Alex Close, Wesley McGovern, James Nguyen, Matt Quinlan and Wesley McGovern also posted personal season-best times that are among top five for the Boilermakers this season. Barth (200 backstroke), Gardner (100 breast), McGovern (100 back) and Quinlan (100 breast) all recorded an NCAA provisional-qualifying time.
Barth (T-7th in 200 back), Gardner (8th in 100 breast), Higgins (10th in 500 free), McGovern (7th in 100 back) and Quinlan (10th in 100 breast) all managed to crack the program's all-time top-10 lists in an event.
The Big Ten Championships begin Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. with the opening night relays and continue through Saturday evening at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center. Prelims are daily at 11 a.m. and finals are set for 6:30 p.m.