Results (PDF)
West Lafayette, Ind. - In the opening session of the Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships, the Fighting Illini swimming and diving team made some changes to the record book. The Illini secured a school-record time in the 800 freestyle relay. The team also finished with the second-fastest 200 medley relay time in school history.
"We had a great start to the meet," said head coach Sue Novitsky. "Our 200 medley relay kicked us off with a strong relay. Gabbie Stecker stepped into the backstroke leg and crushed it."
In the first event of the night, the 200 medley relay, the relay team of Stecker, Gabriele Serniute, Megan Vuong and Gabrielle Bethke finished with a time of 1:40.81, placing them second on the school's all-time fastest times list. The relay team finished 10th overall.
Individually, with a 50 backstroke time of :12.71, Stecker became the second-fastest individual in school history. The time was also good for third fastest all-time.
The highlight of the night came in the 800 freestyle relay, as the relay team of Amelia Schilling, Stecker, Audrey Rodawig and Samantha Stratford shattered the school-record with a time of 7:12.50. Schilling's 200 freestyle time of :25.39 moved her up to fifth on the fastest individual's list, as well as eighth fastest all time.
Stratford also came up big for the Illini, as the Ontario, Canada, native anchored the relay and came away with the fastest 200 freestyle split in school history by almost two seconds.
The Illini are currently tied for 9th place after the first session of competition with 74 points. Action will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT with the preliminary rounds of the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, as well as one-meter diving.
"[The first day] was a great way for our three seniors to get the team going," said Novitsky. "We have to be ready to come in and compete tomorrow."
