University of Illinois
Big Ten Championships (Dive)
Illini Finish 2021 Big Ten Championships
February 27, 2021 | Swimming & Diving
Recap
Day Five Prelims Results | Day Five Finals Results | Big Ten Championships Full Results
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The 2021 Big Ten Championships concluded on Saturday. The Illini finished the event in 12th place with 177 points. A final tally for the week had the Illini with 40 lifetime bests, nine all-time top ten program finishes and one school record. The 40 lifetime bests are the most by the Illini in Big Ten Championships since 2010 (61 lifetime bests).
"The team finished off the meet with a strong relay," said head coach Sue Novitsky. "Each day they came in and competed, working to help the team improve. It has been a year with so much adversity and the coaches are very proud of how the team kept working. They stayed disciplined with everything extra they were asked to do in and out of the pool and treated each day as an opportunity to do the sport that they love. We have grown as a team and will look to carry the momentum forward."
Day five's events included the 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 1650 freestyle, one-meter dive and the 400 freestyle relay. Freshman Lily Olson highlighted the day for Illinois. She improved as the day went on by breaking her lifetime best in the 100 freestyle twice. To open the day in the 100 freestyle, Olson swam the event in :51.90. To cap off the evening, Olson had the first leg of the 400 freestyle relay and recorded a split of :50.40. That time put her in the record books for the sixth fastest individual in program history.
The full list of lifetime bests and top ten finishes from Saturday includes:
Freshman Lily Olson – 100 freestyle, twice (:50.40 – sixth all-time) and (:51.90)
Freshman Laurel Bludgen – 100 freestyle (:51.76)
Junior Kaylee Heimes – 100 freestyle (:53.04)
Sophomore Lizzie Gile – 100 freestyle (:53.72)
Freshman Lauren Beard – 100 freestyle (:54.68)
Junior Lauren Partridge – 200 breaststroke (2:21.89)
Junior Emily Bolger – 200 breaststroke (2:23.74)
Senior Natalie Edwards – 200 backstroke (2:04.15)
The relay to end the week was the 400 freestyle. Olson, junior Abigail Cabush, senior Emma Curtis and Bludgen clocked a time of 3:23.75, the fastest time by the Illini in a 400 freestyle this season.
Freshman Brooke Michael and freshman Taylor Michael both participated in the diving portion of the event. Taylor finished with a score of 237.45 in the one-meter dive, while Brooke scored a 205.55.
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