March 19, 2004

College Station, Texas - Illinois senior Ilkay Dikmen began competition at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, on the campus of Texas A&M at the Student Recreation Center Natatorium Friday morning, participating in the 100 breaststroke event as the only representative of the Illinois swimming and diving at the NCAA Championships.

Dikmen finished 23rd in the 100 breast with a time of 1:09.83 in the short course. The seniors time in the 100 was a lifetime best and also stands as a new school record and Turkish National Record.

Dikmen returns to action on Saturday morning at 11:00 A.M. for the preliminary round of the 200 breast. The finals will begin at 7:00 P.M. Saturday evening.