MADISON, Wisc.: The Illinois swimming and diving team remains in 10^th place of 12 after 3 days of competition at the Big Ten Championships. The Fighting Illini sent five swimmers to the finals and produced two more all-time top 10 fastest individuals, with a relay team landing on the top 10 program list as well.

"Overall it was a strong day," said head coach Sue Novitsky,  "We had multiple finalists and it was great to have some earn their first ever final swim. We have one day to make it happen and we need to continue to bring the energy and finish the meet strong."

Sophomore Cara Bognar qualified for the B-finals in the 400 yard IM with a time of 4:16.60. Bognar followed that performance with a time of 4:20.99 in the finals. Senior Abby Cabush made her final runs in her signature event, the 200 freestyle, qualifying for the C-finals with a preliminary time of 1:48.26 and following with a finals time of 1:48.75.

Three Illinois swimmers qualified for the C-finals in the 100 yard Breaststroke, including freshman Jane Umhofer, Junior Divya Kale, and Junior Kaleigh Haworth. Umhofer won her heat of the prelims with a lifetime-best time of 1:03.35 and broke it in the final with a time of 1:03.20. Kale and Haworth qualified with times of 1:03.05 and 1:03.15, respectively. In the final, Kale swam a 1:03.39 and Haworth clocked a lifetime-best 1:03.12. Haworth touched first in fifth place, with Umhofer and Kale following in fifth and sixth.

The Orange and Blue competed in the 200 yard Freestyle relay, with freshman Molly Yetter, junior Isabelle Guerra, sophomore Laurel Bludgen, and senior Abby Cabush. The team clocked a time of 1:31.53, marking the second All-Time fastest performance in the 200 Freestyle Relay. The team was only 0.03 seconds away from tying the school record.

The Fighting Illini continued to clock career-best times, with 12 lifetime best times and 2 college bests.

Lifetime best times on Day 2:

• Freshman Logan Kuehne (100 Butterfly // 56.71 // First in Heat)
• Junior Lizzie Gile (100 Butterfly // 57.22)
• Senior Kaylee Heimes (100 Butterfly // 56.78)
• Junior Athena Salafatinos (100 Butterfly // 55.56)
• Junior Isabelle Guerra (100 Butterfly // 55.62)
• Sophomore Anna Kurzydlo (200 Freestyle // 1:54.91)
• Junior Jeanri Buys (200 Freestyle // 1:52.37)
• Freshman Jane Umhofer (100 Breaststroke // Twice: 1:03.35, 1:03.20)
• Senior Lauren Partridge (100 Breast // 1:04.78)
• Freshman Molly Yetter (100 Back // 54.81)
• Junior Kaleigh Haworth (100 Breast // 1:03.12)

College Bests on Day 2

• Freshman Lia Munson (200 Freestyle // 1:57.85
• Freshman Sydney Stoll (200 Freestyle // 1:49.43)

Illinois Top Performers by Event

The Fighting Illini return to the Soderholm Family Aquatic Center on Saturday at 10 a.m. CT.

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