INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – With strong performances from freshman Hannah Aegerter, junior Michelle McCord and senior Kristin Anderson, the Illinois swim team sits in fourth place after day one of the House of Champions Invitational. The Illini finished Friday with a score of 330, behind Cincinnati (495.50), UIndy (406) and Michigan State (396).

"We had one of the best starts to a three-day meet in a while," said head coach Sue Novitsky. "The team really stepped up and competed hard and took advantage of their opportunities.  Kristin Anderson moves up to the fifth fastest in the 50 free and Athena Salafatinos is now third in the 100 back all-time.  We need to get some good recovery in tonight and come out with a lot of energy and focus in the morning."

The Orange and Blue had a great showing in the preliminary round to move 14 swimmers to the finals round of competition. Anderson also came away with an individual season-best time in the 50 freestyle of :23.21 in the preliminaries.

Advancing to the 500 freestyle final were Aegerter, and sophomores Abigail Cabush, Sidney Kennedy and Abigail Martin. Aegerter led the way, placing fourth in the event with a season-best time of 4:54.05. Following close behind was Cabush in ninth (4:56.80), Kennedy in 18th (5:02.15) and Martin in 20th (5:03.67).

McCord paced the 200 individual medley. The Canton, Ga., native recorded a 2:02.66 to come away with fifth place. Freshman Kaleigh Haworth finished the event in 13th place, posting a season-best 2:06.33, while senior Fiona McDermott (2:08.32) placed 16th. Competing in the "C" finals, junior Jimena Martinez took 17th place overall with a time of 2:05.32.

In the 50 freestyle, Anderson claimed sixth place, finishing with a time of :23.44. Junior Emma Curtis tied for 12th place, as the Grand Blanc, Mich., native swam a time of :23.82. Junior Gabrielle Loeck (:24.04) placed 15th. Freshman Linda Licari (:24.16) tied for 22nd place in the event. Freshman Isabelle Guerra (:24.00) and redshirt-senior Aby Olson (:24.31), finished 25th and 27th, respectively.

In the relay events, the quartet of Anderson, Guerra, Loeck and Curtis earned a fourth-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:34.32. Sophomore Sarah Cano, McCord, Guerra and Cabush led the Illini in the 400 medley relay, placing fifth with a time of 3:47.84.

Freshman Athena Salafatinos placed third on the program's fastest individual list in the 100 backstroke with a split time of :55.07 with the 400 medley relay team, also membered by freshman Divya Kale, senior Rebecca Corzine and Curtis. The team finished 11th with a combined time of 3:46.31.

The Fighting Illini swim team continues competition tomorrow at 9 a.m. CT. Event order for Saturday will be as follows:

Saturday, Nov. 23

Session 3

• 100 Butterfly
• 400 Individual Medley
• 200 Freestyle
• 100 Breaststroke
• 100 Backstroke

Session 4

• 200 Medley Relay
• 100 Butterfly
• 400 Individual Medley
• 200 Freestyle
• 100 Breaststroke
• 100 Backstroke
• 800 Freestyle Relay

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