University of Illinois
Big Ten Championships
Kuhn's Diving Highlights Day Three of Big Ten Championships
February 16, 2018 | Swimming & Diving
UI posts season-best 200 freestyle relay
| Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships | |
|---|---|
| When | Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 14-17, 2018 |
| Where | McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion // Columbus, Ohio |
| Follow Live | Live Results |
| Admission | Purchase Tickets Here |
| Watch |
Wednesday // 5:30 p.m. CT // Day One Results |
| More Info | Championship Central |
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Fighting Illini swimming and diving team put together a number of strong performances on day three of the Big Ten Championships, including personal-best times in the 400 individual medley, 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Heading into the final day of competition, the Orange and Blue sit in 12th place with a point total of 135.
"We put together another solid day with multiple season and lifetime bests," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "It is great to see the team staying focused and working to have those breakthroughs. This conference is very strong and deep so you have to be willing to put yourself out there and step up to the challenge."
UI got the day started with the preliminary rounds of the 100 butterfly, 400 individual medley, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke. In the 100 butterfly, sophomore Rebecca Corzine came away the top time for the Illini, posting a :57.10. Junior Megan Vuong was next to finish (:57.20), followed by senior Kaitlyn Joyce (:58.77) and sophomore Molly Hein (:58.84).
In the next event of the day, freshman Jimena Martinez and sophomore Fiona McDermott each came away with personal-best times in the 400 individual medley, touching the wall in times of 4:29.65 and 4:31.28, respectively. Senior Samantha Stratford led the way in the 200 freestyle, posting a 1:48.09, which is a season-best time for the Ontario, Canada, native, as well as the top time in the event on the season for the Illini. Sophomore Monica Guyett also came away with a personal-best 1:49.66 in the event.
Freshman Michelle McCord swam the fastest 100 breaststroke for the Illini on the day with a 1:02.92, while freshman Emma Curtis (:57.60) and junior Aby Olson (:56.60) posted personal-best times in the 100 backstroke.
In the final event of the night, the 200 freestyle relay, the quartet of Stratford, Anderson, Curtis and Serniute posted a season-best time of 1:32.75 en route to an 11th place finish in the event.
On the Boards
A day after becoming the first Fighting Illini diver to score at the Big Ten Championships since 2010, junior diver Ling Kuhn scored a 295.05 in the preliminary round of 3-meter diving, good for 16th place. Following the consolation finals, Kuhn moved up to 15th overall, earing 12 points for the Illini. Freshman Emma Burns placed 47th in the event, finishing with a point total of 210.80.
"Ling Kuhn exemplified that willingness to step up and go for it," Novitsky added. "Her last dive in the prelims was awesome and she nailed it."
The Orange and Blue will be back in the pool tomorrow, beginning with the preliminary rounds of the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke and 200 butterfly.
Follow the Illini
Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest information on Fighting Illini Swimming and Diving. Follow the Orange and Blue on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for even more coverage.
