INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Fighting Illini swim team saw another strong performance on day three of the House of Champions Invitational in Indianapolis on Sunday, with a final score of 1,232 to place third overall, behind Cincinnati (1,568.5) and Michigan State (1,426.5). Freshman Athena Salafatinos and senior Kristin Anderson earned a spot on the program's top-10 fastest individuals list for their respective events.
"This was a very strong meet overall for the team. We had six really solid sessions competing, great energy as a team and a drive to keep learning from each race," said head coach Sue Novitsky. "We will get back to work in the pool, weight room and finish off the semester strong in the classroom."
The Illini kept their energy going from day one and two of the invitational, as eight members collected career-bests on five of six events, as well, including Anderson and Salafatinos.
Starting the finals round with the 200 backstroke, freshman Hannah Aegerter paced the Illini placing third with a career-best time of 2:01.07. Salafatinos competed in the "B" finals in the race, swimming a lifetime best of 1:59.30 to finish ninth overall, while freshman Linda Licari took 10th with a season-best time of 2:02.41. Salafatinos' time was good to etch her name on the top-10 fastest individuals list, coming in at No. 3. Redshirt senior Aby Olson (2:05.17) and sophomore Sarah Cano (2:06.38) placed 14th and 15th, respectively.
Anderson touched the wall first in the 100 freestyle, as the Palatine, Ill., native had a career-best time of :49.90, which also places her third in program history on the top-10 fastest individuals list. Junior Emma Curtis finished the race in 13th with a time of :51.67, while Gabrielle Loeck (:52.80) claimed 21st place. Sophomore Abigail Cabush (:51.22) and freshman Isabelle Guerra (:52.47) also recorded career-bests of their own to take 17th and 18th place, respectively.
Junior Jimena Martinez secured third-place after swimming a time of 2:15.50. Junior Michelle McCord's time of 2:18.99 was a career-best and good for a sixth-place finish. Freshmen Kaleigh Haworth (2:23.52), Divya Kale (2:23.18), and senior Fiona McDermott (2:26.73), claimed, respectively, eighth, 17th and 22nd.
The lone Illini competing in the 200 butterfly, sophomore Sidney Kennedy was 14th overall with a time of 2:08.21. The Bloomington, Ill., native's time was also a career-best. Kennedy (17:13.79) also took ninth in the 1650 freestyle, while sophomore Abigail Martin (17:26.49) placed 14th.
In the 400 freestyle relay, the team of Cabush, Anderson, Guerra and Curtisfinished with a total time of 3:23.47 to claim third in the event.
Up Next
The House of Champions Invitational marked the final team competition of 2019, as the Illini won't compete again until January 11, against both Iowa and Notre Dame in Iowa City, Iowa. However, select swimmers will have the opportunity to compete at the 2019 Toyota U.S. Open Championships in Atlanta, Ga., Wednesday, Dec. 4 through Saturday, Dec. 7.
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