COLUMBUS, Ohio – A record-breaking time in the 200 freestyle relay earned Purdue men's swimming a place on the podium and a silver medal Friday at the Big Ten Championships.
Nikola Aćin, Ryan Hrosik, Nick Sherman and Ryan Lawrence teamed up for a time of 1:16.50, besting last year's record by 1.11 seconds. The Boilermakers medaled in a relay at Big Tens for the second year in a row and won silver for the first time since the 200 free relay team did the same in 2009.
Purdue has eclipsed its team records in the relays in three of the four events so far this week with only the 400 free relay remaining Saturday night. They've also posted NCAA automatic qualifying times (A Cuts) in both medley relays as well as Friday's 200 free. Aćin and Hrosik have been part of both medal-winning relays the last two seasons at Big Tens.
Trent Pellini qualified for the A final of the 100 breaststroke for the fourth year in a row and in doing scored in all three of his individual events at Big Tens again this year. He placed seventh Friday (51.81), finishing just .05 hundredths of a second shy of his program record in the event. He was also recognized as Purdue's Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree Friday.
The Boilermakers racked up 47 points via five scoring finishes in the 200 butterfly. Four of the five were registered by underclassmen. Elliot Cooper qualified for the A final with a career-best time of 1:45.68 that moved him into fourth place in program history. Liam Walker won the C final, improving on his prelim time by 1.22 seconds and posting the ninth-fastest time (1:46.45) in the team record book. Skyler Younkin (1:46.95) qualified for the B final. Nate Barsanti (1:47.67) and Charlie King (1:47.37) were C finalists. Younkin improved on his 11th-best mark in the record book and King joined the list at 14th.
Aćin once again finished the 50 free in under 19.4 seconds, with his leadoff leg on the 200 free relay checking in at a career-best 19.38, again improving on his third-best mark in team history. Sherman (18.98) broke 19 seconds with his split on the third leg.
Coleman Modglin (53.82, 10th) and Andrew Alders (54.94, 14th) posted career bests in the 100 breast, with both freshmen moving up the program's all-time list in the event. Modglin scored in the C final and projects as Purdue's top performer in Saturday's 200 breast.
Michael Juengel (47.63) scored in the C final of the 100 backstroke. He joined Pellini, Modglin, Cooper, and Walker as Boilermakers to post NCAA provisional qualifying times (B Cuts) Friday.
The Big Ten Championships conclude Saturday with prelims at 11 a.m. and the finals at 6:30 p.m. ET. Along with the 200 breast and meet-ending 400 free relay, the 100 free, 1650 free and 200 back are also on the schedule.
TEAM SCORING (INCLUDING DIVING FROM LAST WEEK)
1.) #8 Indiana 1036.5
2.) #11 Michigan 1010
3.) #21 Ohio State 1000
4.) Purdue 615.5
5.) #19 Wisconsin 571
6.) #20 Northwestern 554
7.) Penn State 496.5
8.) Iowa 444.5
9.) Minnesota 396
10.) Michigan State 149
Nikola Aćin, Ryan Hrosik, Nick Sherman and Ryan Lawrence teamed up for a time of 1:16.50, besting last year's record by 1.11 seconds. The Boilermakers medaled in a relay at Big Tens for the second year in a row and won silver for the first time since the 200 free relay team did the same in 2009.
Purdue has eclipsed its team records in the relays in three of the four events so far this week with only the 400 free relay remaining Saturday night. They've also posted NCAA automatic qualifying times (A Cuts) in both medley relays as well as Friday's 200 free. Aćin and Hrosik have been part of both medal-winning relays the last two seasons at Big Tens.
Trent Pellini qualified for the A final of the 100 breaststroke for the fourth year in a row and in doing scored in all three of his individual events at Big Tens again this year. He placed seventh Friday (51.81), finishing just .05 hundredths of a second shy of his program record in the event. He was also recognized as Purdue's Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree Friday.
The Boilermakers racked up 47 points via five scoring finishes in the 200 butterfly. Four of the five were registered by underclassmen. Elliot Cooper qualified for the A final with a career-best time of 1:45.68 that moved him into fourth place in program history. Liam Walker won the C final, improving on his prelim time by 1.22 seconds and posting the ninth-fastest time (1:46.45) in the team record book. Skyler Younkin (1:46.95) qualified for the B final. Nate Barsanti (1:47.67) and Charlie King (1:47.37) were C finalists. Younkin improved on his 11th-best mark in the record book and King joined the list at 14th.
Aćin once again finished the 50 free in under 19.4 seconds, with his leadoff leg on the 200 free relay checking in at a career-best 19.38, again improving on his third-best mark in team history. Sherman (18.98) broke 19 seconds with his split on the third leg.
Coleman Modglin (53.82, 10th) and Andrew Alders (54.94, 14th) posted career bests in the 100 breast, with both freshmen moving up the program's all-time list in the event. Modglin scored in the C final and projects as Purdue's top performer in Saturday's 200 breast.
Michael Juengel (47.63) scored in the C final of the 100 backstroke. He joined Pellini, Modglin, Cooper, and Walker as Boilermakers to post NCAA provisional qualifying times (B Cuts) Friday.
The Big Ten Championships conclude Saturday with prelims at 11 a.m. and the finals at 6:30 p.m. ET. Along with the 200 breast and meet-ending 400 free relay, the 100 free, 1650 free and 200 back are also on the schedule.
TEAM SCORING (INCLUDING DIVING FROM LAST WEEK)
1.) #8 Indiana 1036.5
2.) #11 Michigan 1010
3.) #21 Ohio State 1000
4.) Purdue 615.5
5.) #19 Wisconsin 571
6.) #20 Northwestern 554
7.) Penn State 496.5
8.) Iowa 444.5
9.) Minnesota 396
10.) Michigan State 149