INDIANAPOLIS – Fighting Illini swimmers Gabbie Stecker and Samantha Stratford swam as members of the Big Ten Conference against the USA Swimming National Team this past weekend in the USA College Challenge, making a couple of entries into the Illinois record books.

"Overall it was a great experience for Baggie and Sam to be able to be a part of the Big Ten team for the USA College Challenge," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "It is not very often that you get the opportunity to compete against some of the very best swimmers in the world. There was an American Record broken in the very first event and that can make it a very intimidating environment."

Both athletes swam in the 400 medley relay, the 800 free relay, and the 400 free relay. Stratford also swam in the 200 IM. Stratford's 100 breast split in the 400 medley relay set a new school record with a time of 1:01.12. She also posted an NCAA B standard mark in the 200 IM with a 2:00.56.

"It was a great chance for Sam and Gabbie to work on focusing on themselves and just going out and racing," Novitsky said. "The Big Ten team showed a lot of pride in our conference and definitely did not back down from the challenge."

For complete results from the USA College Challenge in Indianapolis, click here.