Swimming sends its largest team in history to Nationals

The West Virginia swimming team will send its largest team in the program's history to the women's NCAA Championships.

Competition for the Mountaineers begins Thursday and lasts through Saturday in Lafayette, Ind.

Seniors Kayla Andrews, Shaunna Purtell and Morgan Callaway, along with freshmen Mandie Nugent and Rachael Burnett will make the trip after qualifying throughout the season.

"The women's team has trained very well all year with NCAAs being the focus," said WVU head coach Vic Riggs. "Having these five ladies represent the team at the best meet is an honor for us."

Andrews will swim the 50 free, where she placed second at Big East Conference Championships. She will also compete in the 100 free, which she dominated at Big East, finishing first for the third year in a row.

Callaway will take part in the 500 free, 200 free and 200 back. The senior won the 200 free Big East Championship while placing second in the 200 back and 500 free.

With the appearance, Andrews and Callaway will become the only four-time NCAA Championship qualifiers in program history.

"Our ladies are going into the meet placed very well, and have excellent opportunities to get second swims in individual and relay events," Riggs said.

Also swimming her final collegiate meet is Purtell, who will race in the 200 and 500 free. The senior placed third and fifth in the events in the Big East Championships.

Burnett and Nugent, meanwhile, will be making their first trip to NCAAs.

Burnett capped off a stellar freshman year at the conference meet where she placed fourth in the 200 fly, second in the 400IM and first in the 500 free. Her victory in the 500 free marked a Big East, school and pool record.

She will compete in all three events this weekend.

Nugent, meanwhile, shocked the competition at Big East Championships, storming to a first-place finish in the 200 fly and also taking fifth in the 100 fly, qualifying for this weekend's event in both.

Additionally, the team of Andrews, Callaway, Purtell and Burnett, finished first at Big East in the 400 free relay and set a new conference, school and pool record.

"Their preparation and focus over the past weeks has been very good and with the ability of doing relays for the first time in years will aid in our overall experience," Riggs said.

Most importantly, Riggs hopes his girls will stay motivated and make it through the preliminary round.

"We have strong swims each day and will look to do our best in the preliminaries in both the individual and relays events to get those second swims," Riggs said. "It is always a very exciting meet."