Feb. 17, 2011
Results
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Fighting Illini swimming and diving team fell to 11th place (46 points) at the Big Ten Championships Thursday and trail 10th-place Michigan State by seven points. The Illini relay team and senior Ann Miller highlighted the day for the Orange and Blue, climbing Illinois' all-time fastest relays and individuals lists.
"Compared to the first session last night, we made some strides," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "In her 200 IM, Ann (Miller) stayed calm and stayed in the moment, and that is something she has really improved upon this year. Courtney Pope's relay split was also pretty special. Now, we have to be able to get ready to go in the morning and get some night swims. I think we're taking steps in the right direction."
After seven events, host Indiana leads the standings with 279 points, followed by Minnesota (236), Ohio State (149), Michigan (147), Purdue (146.5), Penn State (143), Wisconsin (99.5), Iowa (75), Northwestern (74), Michigan State (53) and Illinois (46).
The 200 free relay team of junior Kristen Manias, sophomore Erin Lamb and freshmen Elizabeth Bell and Courtney Pope posted a season-best time of 1:33.56, the sixth-fastest in Illini history, and added the only points on the day for Illinois. Pope helped secure the time with her quick relay split, finishing her leg of the relay in a time of 22.72, the fastest 50 free time for the Illini this season.
In prelims, Miller led the 200 IM with a personal-best time of 2:04.81, moving from 10th to sixth on the Illini all-time fastest individuals list, followed by junior April McKee, who secured a personal-best time of 2:05.79. Sophomore Sarah Coady (2:07.66), freshman Marin Thompson (2:09.55) and classmate Emily Wilkinson (2:11.94) also added personal bests in the 200 IM, while sophomore Erin Rodriguez secured a season-best time of 2:05.71.
In the 500 free prelims, junior Kelly Kunkel (4:59.97) and Pope (4:59.54) each posted personal bests, while sophomore Kathleen Knight secured her fastest time of the season (5:06.67). In the 50 free prelims, Lamb led the Illini with a personal-best time of 23.60, while junior Caitlin Conroy (24.21) and freshman Cara Chuang (25.17) each captured personal bests, along with Bell, who matched her personal best (23.90). Seniors Meghan Mason (23.97) and Corey Kasten (24.40) and juniors Manias (23.67) and Rachel Japp Joyce (24.42) each secured season bests in that event.
On the boards, Britni Fisher was the top finisher for the Illini with a score of 224.00 in the one-meter dive.
The Illini did not qualify for finals in any individual event on the day.
The Orange and Blue will return to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT. Live results will be available HERE. For results and recap at the conclusion of each day's events, visit fightingillini.com.
Schedule of Events
Trials will begin at 10 a.m. CT, Finals at 5:30 p.m. CT
Friday, Feb. 18 // Trials & Finals
400 Medley Relay
400 IM
100 Fly
200 Free
100 Breast
100 Back
Three-Meter Dive
Saturday, Feb. 19 // Trials & Finals
1650 Free
200 Back
100 Free
200 Breast
200 Fly
Platform Dive
400 Free Relay
