Dec. 5, 2009
Final Stats
OXFORD, Ohio -
The Fighting Illini swimming and diving team set multiple season-best times and freshman Tessa Adams qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in the final day of the Miami (OH) Invitational. The Illini finished in fifth place with 1,004 points, while host Miami (OH) came away with the title, tallying 2,321 points.
"Overall, we were up and down throughout the competition," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "We were pretty flat in each preliminary session and that hurt us at night. The people who came back at night were able to put together really solid races. Tonight was the best overall session in terms of racing well and making a lot of improvements from their morning swims.
It was a tough meet, and they kept a positive attitude throughout. They kept fighting, and I'm proud of them for that."
Kristen Kloeckener (5:05.16) and Amy Forsberg (5:06.28) set season-best times in the 500 freestyle, while Erin Rodriguez did the same in the prelims of the 200 individual medley (2:09.12) and Brittany McGowan also recorded a season-best swim in the prelims of the 100 butterfly (57.04). Additionally, the 400 free relay team of Kristen Manias, Meghan Mason, Anna Johnson and McGowan tied a season-best time of 3:30.56 in the event.
Sophomore Britni Fisher recorded a season-best score of 285.30 in the one-meter dive to finish in second place and now ranks fourth on the all-time charts in the event. Adams also had a season-best dive in the one-meter with a score of 268.10 and joins teammates Fisher and freshman Lauren Wismer in qualifying for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
"The divers competed well against a bigger field," Novitsky said. "They maintained their composure while putting together some good dives on the board."
The Illini will take their annual winter trip to Boca Raton, Fla. from Dec. 30 through Jan. 9 and will return to action Jan. 16 against Iowa.
Final Results
1. Miami (OH) - 2,321
2. Florida Gulf Coast - 1,438
3. Emory - 1,355
4. Oakland - 1,008
5. Illinois - 1,004
6. Denison - 919
7. Cincinnati - 735
8. Wright State - 608
9. UW-Milwaukee - 213
10. Tsinghua - 72
