Dec. 7, 2002
Results
Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois Swimming and Diving team overcame a 55.5 point deficit Saturday to win the Miami Invitational with a score of 1453, which was contested at the Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Rounding out the top five were Kenyon College (1388), Indiana (1307), Miami (1054) and Emory University (1003.5).
"Overall I was extremely proud of the effort the team put out this weekend," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "The last session was by far the best for us and the kids really stepped up to win this event. This weekend's goal as a team was to improve as a group. I think we developed some leadership and gelled as a team. I believe we became a better team this weekend."
Senior Sara O'Fallon finished third for the Illini in a season best time of 2:05.51 in the 200 back. Fellow senior Alison Czmarko won the consolation finals of the same event in a time of 2:06.96.
Sophomore Kirsten Koepcke turned in another solid performance in a distance freestyle event, setting a new lifetime best and finishing third in the 500 free (4:58.94). Junior Crystal McAdam won the 200 IM in a time of 2:05.32 and placed second in the 100 fly (56.96). Both marks were season bests for the Decatur native. Junior Ilkay Dikmen turned in a gritty effort for the Orange and Blue in winning the 200 breast final (2:17.87).
The Illinois relay teams remained white hot, as the team of Czmarko, Dikmen, McAdam and Christina Brunka won the 200 IM event in a time of 1:46.45. The Illini also placed second in the 400 free relay with the team of Brunka, Colleen Gorman, Koepcke and McAdam clocking in at 3:30.21.
Junior diver Lisa Fish had another good showing on the 1-meter board, finishing fifth in the finals with a mark of 215.30. Sophomore Allison Prather took another big step in her comeback from off-season shoulder surgery in placing sixth with a score of 213.75.
"I'm really proud of these two girls," diving coach Josh Seykora said. "They had an awesome weekend and are making great improvements. We are looking forward to the training trip out west over break."
The Illini will return to action on Jan. 4-5 when they participate in the Daktronics Invitational in Irvine, Calif.
