HOLLAND, Mich. -- Six event victories and a pair of 1-2 finishes highlighted the season debut for the Purdue Swimmers as they raced against Michigan, Hope College and Calvin University at the third annual Be Better Invitational at the Holland Aquatic Center.
The meet was officially contested as a non-scoring exhibition while featuring unique events like mixed-gender relays, an underwater 50 freestyle with fins, a 25-yard shootout eliminator and the 500 freestyle contested with five consecutive 100-yard legs in which swimmers started fresh on each 100. The invitational is held as a fundraiser for the Be Better Foundation, which has a mission of improving mental health awareness.
Caitlin Hurley and Reagan Mattice teamed up for a 1-2 finish in the 5 x 100 free, taking four of the five legs of the race. Hurley won the first three and Mattice finished top two in all five, including winning the final leg with an event-best 100 split of 54.37.
Ana Rojas and Brinly Hardy finished 1-2 in the 50 free underwater with fins. It was also among the five events in which the Boilermakers had three of the top five finishers.
Along with winning the 100 butterfly as the first individual event of the day, Brady Samuels was a finalist and the runner-up in the 25 shootout, winning legs two and three of the event (which featured a variety of strokes). He also took third in the 100 individual medley.
Just as Hurley and Mattice did for the women, Patrick Broderick and Matheo Mateos both won legs in the men's 5 x 100 free. Broderick was victorious in the fourth leg and finished no worse than second in any of the five, emerging as the co-winner of the event with a cumulative time of 4:05.41. Mateos won the final heat in 48.99 as the only swimmer in the event to break 49 seconds on a 100 leg.
Freshman Kaia Podlin won all five of her legs in heat 1 of the 25 shootout. Her classmates Adele Sands (200 free), Will Jost (50 free) and Blake Rowe (100 back) posted runner-up finishes in traditional events in their collegiate debuts.
Keira Kask finished top five in three different individual events – 100 fly, 100 IM and 50 free underwater with fins. Hannah Hill (50 free) and Raymond Whittaker (100 breast) also accounted for runner-up showings in traditional individual events.
The Boilermakers open their home schedule Saturday, Oct. 12 by hosting the annual Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate. The in-state showcase is set for its traditional noon start time.
The meet was officially contested as a non-scoring exhibition while featuring unique events like mixed-gender relays, an underwater 50 freestyle with fins, a 25-yard shootout eliminator and the 500 freestyle contested with five consecutive 100-yard legs in which swimmers started fresh on each 100. The invitational is held as a fundraiser for the Be Better Foundation, which has a mission of improving mental health awareness.
| PURDUE'S EVENT WINNERS • Brady Samuels – 100 Fly • Masy Folcik – 100 Breast • Abby Marcukaitis – 100 Back • Patrick Broderick – 5 x 100 Free • Caitlin Hurley – 5 x 100 Free • Ana Rojas – 50 Free Underwater with Fins |
PURDUE HAD 3 OF TOP 5 FINISHERS • 50 Free Underwater (W) – Rojas, Hardy, Kask • 200 Free (W) – Sands, Hurley, Mattice • 100 Breast (W) – Folcik, Phillips, Erlandson • 100 Breast (M) – Whittaker, Lee, Bartmess • 200 Medley Relay (M) |
Caitlin Hurley and Reagan Mattice teamed up for a 1-2 finish in the 5 x 100 free, taking four of the five legs of the race. Hurley won the first three and Mattice finished top two in all five, including winning the final leg with an event-best 100 split of 54.37.
Ana Rojas and Brinly Hardy finished 1-2 in the 50 free underwater with fins. It was also among the five events in which the Boilermakers had three of the top five finishers.
Along with winning the 100 butterfly as the first individual event of the day, Brady Samuels was a finalist and the runner-up in the 25 shootout, winning legs two and three of the event (which featured a variety of strokes). He also took third in the 100 individual medley.
Just as Hurley and Mattice did for the women, Patrick Broderick and Matheo Mateos both won legs in the men's 5 x 100 free. Broderick was victorious in the fourth leg and finished no worse than second in any of the five, emerging as the co-winner of the event with a cumulative time of 4:05.41. Mateos won the final heat in 48.99 as the only swimmer in the event to break 49 seconds on a 100 leg.
Freshman Kaia Podlin won all five of her legs in heat 1 of the 25 shootout. Her classmates Adele Sands (200 free), Will Jost (50 free) and Blake Rowe (100 back) posted runner-up finishes in traditional events in their collegiate debuts.
Keira Kask finished top five in three different individual events – 100 fly, 100 IM and 50 free underwater with fins. Hannah Hill (50 free) and Raymond Whittaker (100 breast) also accounted for runner-up showings in traditional individual events.
The Boilermakers open their home schedule Saturday, Oct. 12 by hosting the annual Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate. The in-state showcase is set for its traditional noon start time.