COLUMBUS, Ohio – Purdue men's swimming enjoyed a record-setting opening night of the Big Ten Championships, breaking three program benchmarks in the two relays contested Tuesday.
The Boilermakers eclipsed their records in both the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays in the same session of Big Tens for the first time since 2015. Tuesday's times were 1:23.82 in the 200 and 6:24.63 in the 800. The 200 medley team posted an NCAA automatic qualifying time (A Cut). Purdue has set a team record in the 200 medley relay in the first event of Big Tens three of the last four years.
Nick Sherman led off the 800 free relay with a split of 1:33.81 that doubles as a program record in the 200 free. Sherman eclipsed John Schmitt's benchmark (1:34.94), which had stood since 2009, by 1.13 seconds. A year ago, Sherman punctuated an 800 free relay record with an anchor split of 1:33.95.
Purdue's quartet in the 200 medley relay was the same as last season – Michael Juengel, Trent Pellini, Ryan Hrosik and Nikola Aćin. Meanwhile, Sherman was the only returning member of the 800 foursome, teaming with Batuhan Hakan, Jude Wenker and Andrew Alders this year. Wenker and Alders are both freshmen.
Pellini and Aćin accounted for the most impressive 50 splits in the 200 medley event. According to SwimSwam.com, Pellini's 50 breast time of 22.82 is eighth in the history of the event (200 yards, SCY). Aćin (18.59) eclipsed 19 seconds again on the anchor freestyle leg.
The Boilermakers came up just shy of winning a medal in the 200 medley relay. Only .55 hundredths of a second separated second-place Ohio State (1:23.27) and fourth-place Purdue (1:23.82).
Competing in lane 7, the Boilermakers were initially disqualified in the 800 free relay due to Hakan exiting the water from lane 8, which was empty. Head coach Dan Ross challenged the DQ since NCAA rules only state a swimmer may not cross into an opponent's lane. The DQ was officially reversed by the meet officials.
The 200 medley team eclipsed the program record from the 2019 NCAA Championships by .51 hundredths. The 800 free team bested last season's benchmark by .39 hundredths.
The Big Ten Championships continue Wednesday with prelims at 11 a.m. ET and finals at 6:30 p.m. The 200 IM, 50 free, 500 free and 400 medley relay are on the schedule for Wednesday.
2021 Big Ten Championships – Opening Night Relays
Tuesday, March 2
* – Purdue Season-Best Time
(A) – NCAA Automatic Qualifying Time
200 Medley Relay
Juengel, Pellini, Hrosik & Aćin, 1:23.82* (A) – Finished 4th (52 Points); PROGRAM RECORD
800 Free Relay
Sherman, Hakan, Wenker & Alders, 6:24.63* – Finished 7th (46 Points); PROGRAM RECORD
Sherman leadoff leg split of 1:33.81 is a PROGRAM RECORD in the 200 freestyle
TEAM SCORING (INCLUDING DIVING FROM LAST WEEK)
1.) #21 Ohio State 433
2.) #8 Indiana 319
3.) Purdue 258
4.) #11 Michigan 223
5.) #20 Northwestern 187
6.) #19 Wisconsin 168
7.) Minnesota 162
8.) Penn State 129
9.) Iowa 114
10.) Michigan State 68
The Boilermakers eclipsed their records in both the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays in the same session of Big Tens for the first time since 2015. Tuesday's times were 1:23.82 in the 200 and 6:24.63 in the 800. The 200 medley team posted an NCAA automatic qualifying time (A Cut). Purdue has set a team record in the 200 medley relay in the first event of Big Tens three of the last four years.
Nick Sherman led off the 800 free relay with a split of 1:33.81 that doubles as a program record in the 200 free. Sherman eclipsed John Schmitt's benchmark (1:34.94), which had stood since 2009, by 1.13 seconds. A year ago, Sherman punctuated an 800 free relay record with an anchor split of 1:33.95.
Purdue's quartet in the 200 medley relay was the same as last season – Michael Juengel, Trent Pellini, Ryan Hrosik and Nikola Aćin. Meanwhile, Sherman was the only returning member of the 800 foursome, teaming with Batuhan Hakan, Jude Wenker and Andrew Alders this year. Wenker and Alders are both freshmen.
Pellini and Aćin accounted for the most impressive 50 splits in the 200 medley event. According to SwimSwam.com, Pellini's 50 breast time of 22.82 is eighth in the history of the event (200 yards, SCY). Aćin (18.59) eclipsed 19 seconds again on the anchor freestyle leg.
| 50 SPLITS COMPARISON ON THE 200 MEDLEY RELAY AT BIG TENS | ||
| Swimmer, Stroke | 2020 Time | 2021 Time |
| Michael Juengel, Back | 21.61 | 21.56 |
| Trent Pellini, Breast | 23.20 | 22.82 |
| Ryan Hrosik, Fly | 20.64 | 20.85 |
| Nikola Aćin, Free | 18.99 | 18.59 |
| Team | 1:24.44 | 1:23.82 |
The Boilermakers came up just shy of winning a medal in the 200 medley relay. Only .55 hundredths of a second separated second-place Ohio State (1:23.27) and fourth-place Purdue (1:23.82).
Competing in lane 7, the Boilermakers were initially disqualified in the 800 free relay due to Hakan exiting the water from lane 8, which was empty. Head coach Dan Ross challenged the DQ since NCAA rules only state a swimmer may not cross into an opponent's lane. The DQ was officially reversed by the meet officials.
The 200 medley team eclipsed the program record from the 2019 NCAA Championships by .51 hundredths. The 800 free team bested last season's benchmark by .39 hundredths.
The Big Ten Championships continue Wednesday with prelims at 11 a.m. ET and finals at 6:30 p.m. The 200 IM, 50 free, 500 free and 400 medley relay are on the schedule for Wednesday.
2021 Big Ten Championships – Opening Night Relays
Tuesday, March 2
* – Purdue Season-Best Time
(A) – NCAA Automatic Qualifying Time
200 Medley Relay
Juengel, Pellini, Hrosik & Aćin, 1:23.82* (A) – Finished 4th (52 Points); PROGRAM RECORD
800 Free Relay
Sherman, Hakan, Wenker & Alders, 6:24.63* – Finished 7th (46 Points); PROGRAM RECORD
Sherman leadoff leg split of 1:33.81 is a PROGRAM RECORD in the 200 freestyle
TEAM SCORING (INCLUDING DIVING FROM LAST WEEK)
1.) #21 Ohio State 433
2.) #8 Indiana 319
3.) Purdue 258
4.) #11 Michigan 223
5.) #20 Northwestern 187
6.) #19 Wisconsin 168
7.) Minnesota 162
8.) Penn State 129
9.) Iowa 114
10.) Michigan State 68