The freshman-heavy Purdue Boilermaker women took a commanding lead from the start of their season opener against the Miami (OH) Redhawks. With 19 incoming freshmen making their collegiate debut, the Purdue women claimed first-place finishes in every event for a 199 to 94 win.
Junior diver Mary-Beth Dunnichay, third-place finalist at Big Tens last year, lead the 1-2-3 sweep of the 1-meter diving. Dunnichay went on to claim first in the 3-meter platform event as well, over 80 points ahead of second-place Miami Sophomore Taylor LeCount.
An almost entirely Senior Purdue ‘A’ team lead by Sophomore backstroker Hannah Manger took first in the 200 Medley Relay (1:42.89) ahead of Miami’s ‘A’ (1:42.48). Purdue’s ‘B’ and ‘C’ teams followed up over two seconds behind. Manger went on to take wins in both the 100 Back (56.88) and 200 Back (2:05.30), to kick off her collegiate career.
Freshman Boilermaker Kaersten Mietz swam a sub 10-minute 1000 Free (9:58.33), over 17 seconds ahead of Junior teammate Alexa Davis (10:15.91), to take home the win.
Another double-winner of the meet was Senior Boilermaker and NCAA Champs qualifier Rhiannon Sheets. Sheets took the 200 Fly in 2:02.62, over three seconds ahead of Freshman teammate Emily Rawson (2:06.55), as well as the 100 Free in 51.97. This event was the start of a series of exhibition swims for the Purdue Boilermakers for the rest of the meet.
Four-year Wisconsin State qualifier and Freshman Abby Jagdfeld shined in her first meet for the Boilermakers with a triple set of wins in her first meet. Jagdfeld lead a 1-2-3 sweep in the 200 Free (1:49.13) and the 50 Free (23.57). Her third win solidified her freestyle prowess in the 500 Free (4:55.64), as she finished ten seconds ahead of the nearest Miami Redhawks swimmer, Freshman Shay Spelman (5:05.96).
200 Medley Relay butterflyer Alex Todd took an individual win home in the 100 Fly (55.45), getting close to that NCAA ‘B’ Cut.
London native, NCAA qualifier and Academic All-Big Ten Francesca Marr took first in both the 200 Breast (2:18.03) and the 200 IM (2:06.21) to contribute to Purdue’s complete coverage of first-place finishes throughout the meet.
Check out the full results here.
