MADISON, Wisc.: The Illinois swimming and diving team closed out the Big Ten Championships in 11^th place with 199 points overall. The Fighting Illini recorded 38 lifetime bests and 9 college best across the four days of Big Ten Competition, broke a school record in the 50 freestyle, and landed multiple swimmers on the All-Time Top 10 performances and fastest individuals.

"The team had a strong meet overall," said head coach Sue Novitsky,  "It was great to see them challenge themselves to make improvements and to see numerous personal best and changes to the record books."

The Fighting Illini sent two swimmers, Freshman Jane Umhofer and junior Kaleigh Haworth, to the C-finals in the 200 breaststroke. Umhofer qualified with a lifetime best 2:16.98, landing herself in the 23^rd spot in the rankings. In the final, Umhofer clocked another lifetime-best time of 2:16.52, placing 5th in the C-final. Haworth qualified with a preliminary time of 2:16.63, ending up 20^th in the rankings. In the final, she clocked a 2:16.63 placing 8^th in the C-final..

Sophomore Cara Bognar found a place in the C-final of the 200 butterfly with a qualifying time of 2:00.94. In the final, Bognar placed 8th with a time of 2:02.44.

The Orange and Blue then competed in the 400 yard Freestyle Relay, sending freshman Molly Yetter, senior Abby Cabush, junior Isabelle Guerra, and freshman Sydney Stoll. The team clocked a time of 3:22.67, landing them in 11th place.

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

Lifetime best times on Day 3:

• Junior Lizzie Gile
  • 100 Free // 53.63
  • 200 Fly // 2:06.26
• Junior Jeanri Buys (100 Free // 52.54)
• Junior Isabelle Guerra (100 Free // 51.15)
• Senior Kaylee Heimes (200 Fly // 2:07.67)
• Senior Abigail Cabush (100 Free // 50.36)
• Freshman Molly Yetter (100 Free // 49.91)
• Junior Mariclaire Lynch (200 Breast // 2:19.79)
• Freshman Jane Umhofer
  • Twice: (200 Breast // 2:16.98, 2:16.52)
• Junior Kaleigh Haworth (200 Breast // 2:16.63)
• Senior Lauren Partridge (200 Breast // 2:19.42)
• Sophomore Cara Bognar (1650 Free // 16:57.49)

College Bests on Day 2

• Sophomore Meghan Niziolek (200 Back // 1:59.36)
• Freshman Lia Munson (100 Free // 54.67)
• Sophomore Sophia Burwitz (200 Fly // 2:05.63)
• Senior Sidney Kennedy (1650 Freestyle // 17:01.71)

Illinois Top Performers By Event

UP NEXT

The Fighting Illini diving team takes on the NCAA Zone C finals on March 7-9, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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