COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State's women's swimming and diving team is in fifth place after the first day of competition at the Purdue Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind. Michigan leads with  211 points and is followed by Louisville (207), Purdue (185), Arkansas (164), Ohio State (132) and Missouri State (64).

Junior Samantha Cheverton had the swim of the day for the Buckeyes, swimming an NCAA "B" qualifying time of 4:46.66 in the 500 freestyle to finish second. She cut more than five seconds off her morning preliminary time.

Freshman Megan Detro also swam in a championship final, finishing fifth in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.34. Jill Lockhart - ninth in the 200 individual medley - and Haley Mitchell - 14th in the 500 freestyle - added points in individual events for the Buckeyes.

Coach Vince Panzano's divers were competing for the first time this season. In the 3-meter diving competition, senior Chelsea Davis was fourth with 312.95 points and sophomore Bianca Alvarez was fifth.

Each of the Buckeyes' top relay teams posted fifth-place finishes. The all-freshman 200 freestyle relay team of Kimberly Bowman, Detro, Lauren Massey and Evann Heidersbach clocked a 1:33.68 time. And the 400 medley relay team of Cheverton, Catherine Eitel, Shannon Draves and Detro was fifth in 3:44.61.

Women's Swimming & Diving

Day 1 at Purdue Invite

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

West Lafayette, Ind.

Team Scores: 1. Michigan 211; 2. Louisville 207; 3. Purdue 185; 4. Arkansas 164; 5. Ohio State 132; 6. Missouri State 64.

Ohio State Top Finishers: 200 medley relay - 5. Bowman, Detro, Massey, Heidersbach (1:33.68); 500 freestyle - 2. Samantha Cheverton (4:46.66); 200 IM - 9. Jill Lockhart (2:04.07); 50 freestyle - 5. Megan Detro (23.34); 3-meter diving - 4. Chelsea Davis (312.95); 400 freestyle relay - 5.  Cheverton, Eitel, Draves, Detro (3:44.61).

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