Four Mountaineer swimmers compete at NCAAs

The West Virginia swimming and diving teams sent five women to Purdue University for the NCAA Championships this weekend.

The Mountaineers finished 44th overall including a 15th overall finish in the 400 free relay by Kayla Andrews, Morgan Callaway, Shaunna Purtell and Rachael Burnett. The finish allowed the swimmers to become the first WVU women swimmers to earn an honorable mention all-American status since 1992.

"We were the first relay ever to final for WVU. It was absolutely insane," Purtell said. "We swam our hearts out and moved up a place. It was an amazing feeling.

"Two girls were four-year qualifiers, but the rest of us were rookies. We were star struck, but it's the fastest meet in the world, and we swam really well."

Purtell was one of three seniors to compete in their final collegiate meet for the Mountaineers, along with Andrews and Callaway. Purtell finished 62nd in the 200 free (1:50.05) and 60th in the 500 free.

Andrews competed in the 50 free with a 42nd place finish with a time of 22.94 and in the 100 free where she placed 43rd in 49.90.

Callaway ended 31st in the 200 free (1:47.43) and 44th in the 500 free (4:46.89).

"We were the ones everyone looked up to," Purtell said of the senior class. "We stuck through the coaching change our freshman year and became a lot closer.

"Just growing and developing a new team with (head coach Vic Riggs) and the staff, we're going to stay close."

Youth and experience combined for an 18th-place finish in the 400-medley relay with Andrews and Callaway teaming up with Mandie Nugent and Burnett to barely miss the all-American cutoff.

While the seniors finished their careers, the two West Virginia freshmen were just beginning. Following their first-place finishes at the Big East Conference Championships, Nugent and Burnett received their first taste of an NCAA meet.

Burnett finished 40th in the 400IM with a time of 4:18.78 and 55th in the 500 free, finishing in 4:49.25. Nugent competed in the 100 and 200 fly where she finished 48th and 38th, respectively.

"Our freshmen class spoke for itself," Purtell said. "They have the experience, and they know what they can achieve. They might be young, but they're strong."

It was the largest group to ever qualify for the NCAA Championships in West Virginia swimming history.