MINNEAPOLIS – Spearheaded by Brady Samuels' fastest 200 freestyle time in program history, Purdue Men's Swimming & Diving set two team records on the 800 free relay on the opening night of the Big Ten Championships.
Samuels teamed with three freshmen – Walker Mattice, Blake Rowe and Evan Mackesy – to post a team-record time of 6:21.94, eclipsing a benchmark that had stood since 2021 by 2.69 seconds.
Samuels claimed his third individual team record with a leadoff leg split of 1:32.52, besting former relay-mate Nick Sherman's record (1:33.74) that had stood since the 2023 NCAA Championships. Samuels' time was the third fastest leadoff leg split among the eight-team field Wednesday as well as an NCAA provisional qualifying time (B Cut).
Samuels also owns Purdue records in the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly, lowering his benchmark in the 100 fly while winning gold in the event at the Toyota U.S. Open in December. As a freshman in 2022, he helped Purdue set a team record in the 400 free relay at both the Big Ten and NCAA Championships. That mark still stands.
For the third time in six seasons, the Boilermakers eclipsed their team record in the 800 free relay on the opening night of Big Tens.
Samuels also helped Purdue's 200 medley relay team post a top-10 time in team history Wednesday in the first event of the championships. He teamed up with Idris Muhammad (back), Raymond Whittaker (breast) and Nathaniel Thomas (free) for a time of 1:25.20.
The Big Ten Championships continue Thursday at Minnesota's Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center with swimming prelims at 11 a.m. ET, diving prelims at 1 p.m. ET and the finals session at 6 p.m. ET.
OPENING NIGHT AT THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
* – Purdue Season-Best Time
200 Medley Relay
Muhammad, Whittaker, Samuels & Thomas, 1:25.20* – Finished 9th (40 Points); 7th Fastest in Team History
800 Free Relay
Samuels, Mattice, Rowe & Mackesy, 6:21.94* – Finished 8th (44 Points); TEAM RECORD
Samuels' leadoff leg split of 1:32.52* (B Cut) is a TEAM RECORD in 200 Free
Team Diving (Exhibition)
Welsh, Springfield & Wills, 335.90 – Finished 5th
OPENING NIGHT TEAM SCORES
1.) #2 Indiana 116
2.) #16 USC 112
T-3.) #10 Michigan 110
T-3.) #13 Ohio State 110
5.) Wisconsin 100
6.) Northwestern 96
7.) #24 Minnesota 94
8.) Penn State 86
9.) Purdue 84
Samuels teamed with three freshmen – Walker Mattice, Blake Rowe and Evan Mackesy – to post a team-record time of 6:21.94, eclipsing a benchmark that had stood since 2021 by 2.69 seconds.
Samuels claimed his third individual team record with a leadoff leg split of 1:32.52, besting former relay-mate Nick Sherman's record (1:33.74) that had stood since the 2023 NCAA Championships. Samuels' time was the third fastest leadoff leg split among the eight-team field Wednesday as well as an NCAA provisional qualifying time (B Cut).
Samuels also owns Purdue records in the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly, lowering his benchmark in the 100 fly while winning gold in the event at the Toyota U.S. Open in December. As a freshman in 2022, he helped Purdue set a team record in the 400 free relay at both the Big Ten and NCAA Championships. That mark still stands.
For the third time in six seasons, the Boilermakers eclipsed their team record in the 800 free relay on the opening night of Big Tens.
Samuels also helped Purdue's 200 medley relay team post a top-10 time in team history Wednesday in the first event of the championships. He teamed up with Idris Muhammad (back), Raymond Whittaker (breast) and Nathaniel Thomas (free) for a time of 1:25.20.
The Big Ten Championships continue Thursday at Minnesota's Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center with swimming prelims at 11 a.m. ET, diving prelims at 1 p.m. ET and the finals session at 6 p.m. ET.
OPENING NIGHT AT THE BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
* – Purdue Season-Best Time
200 Medley Relay
Muhammad, Whittaker, Samuels & Thomas, 1:25.20* – Finished 9th (40 Points); 7th Fastest in Team History
800 Free Relay
Samuels, Mattice, Rowe & Mackesy, 6:21.94* – Finished 8th (44 Points); TEAM RECORD
Samuels' leadoff leg split of 1:32.52* (B Cut) is a TEAM RECORD in 200 Free
Team Diving (Exhibition)
Welsh, Springfield & Wills, 335.90 – Finished 5th
OPENING NIGHT TEAM SCORES
1.) #2 Indiana 116
2.) #16 USC 112
T-3.) #10 Michigan 110
T-3.) #13 Ohio State 110
5.) Wisconsin 100
6.) Northwestern 96
7.) #24 Minnesota 94
8.) Penn State 86
9.) Purdue 84