Purdue senior Allie Davis is heading out with a bang. After breaking the Purdue school record in the 200 free at the mid-season Purdue Invitational, Davis has marked another notch on her belt.
Swimming on the first day of a Big Ten tri meet against Northwestern and Minnesota at Northwestern on Friday, Davis swam a 1:46.20 to win the 200 free ahead of Minnesota’s Lauren Votava (1:47.21).
That put both swimmers ahead of the old Norris Aquatic Center Pool Record of 1:47.29 done by then-Cal sophomore Dana Vollmer in 2006. Vollmer, who would go on to win Olympic gold and set a World Record in the 100 fly in 2012, did that swim in Cal’s first meet of the 2006-2007 season.
Scores After Day 1:
- Minnesota 127-Northwestern 59
- Purdue 129-Northwestern 57
- Minnesota 109-Purdue 77
Despite her record-breaking swim, the Minnesota women sit in the lead in both legs of the double dual at the midway point of the competition. That’s thanks in large part to a fairly comfortable sweep of the day’s relays: first the 200 medley in 1:41.64, and then in the 400 free relay in 3:20.23.
The Gophers opened the session by winning the first three events, including 3-meter diving and a victory in the 1000 via a 9:48.97 from senior Sam Harding.
After Davis’ 200 free victory, the home team Wildcats got in on the mix when Lacey Locke won the 100 back in 55.18 – a confidence-boosting victory against Minnesota standout Zoe Avestruz (55.41).
Purdue see-sawed back to the top of the rankings thanks to a 1:01.53 from Emily Fogle in the 100 breaststroke, part of a 1-3-4 finish from the Boilermakers. That was the best push they’d make in the session on the early lead from the favored Minnesota team, who took the next race, the 200 fly, in a 1:59.21 from Danielle Nack.
Northwestern kept the racing competitive, even if the score was not, with a second win of the day, this time in the 50 free. Mary Warren won in 23.13, and her teammate Annika Winsnes placed 3rd in 23.65. They sandwiched Minnesota’s Abigail Raatz, who was 2nd in 23.49.
The Gophers cemented their standing in the last individual event of the day. Sophomore Brooke Zeiger (2:02.08) and freshman Danielle Bergeson (2:04.52) went 1-2 in the 200 IM, albeit in a rather lackluster field overall.
The meet will continue on Saturday at noon Central Time.
Full day 1 results available here.
