University of Illinois
Tim Welsh Classic
Diner Adds Second-Best 100 Fly Time on Day One of Tim Welsh Classic
January 23, 2026 | Swimming & Diving
RECAP
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Illinois swim and dive completed day one of the Tim Welsh Classic on Friday evening, sitting in second place of four teams, with 616 points.
An Illinois swimmer has emerged victorious in the 200 IM in the team's last four meets, dating back to Dec. 6 at Wisconsin. This morning, it was senior Sara Jass who came out on top, taking gold in 2:00.83. Teammate Chloe Diner finished in third, with a time of 2:01.37.
In the final race of the morning, Maggie Adler, Diner, Kayla Duran, and Sophia Paduano swam a 3:40.63 in the 400 medley relay, good for third in the event and fifth all-time in program history.
On the one-meter boards, freshman Amelia Semple shone, earning third place with a 281.15. Matilda Garcia placed closely behind in fifth with a 277.30, while Bethany Mercer placed seventh, scoring a 276.20.
Diner was a highlight of the evening session, taking bronze in the 100 butterfly with the second-best time in program history (54.27). Prior to this meet, Diner held the seventh-best time, sitting at 54.59. She also placed second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:01.74.
The Fighting Illini concluded the night in strong fashion, with the team of Jass, Diner, Adler, and Hailey Vlcek taking silver in the 800 freestyle relay (7:22.33).
Event Winners:
- 200 IM, Sara Jass: 2:00.83
Top-Ten Program Marks:
- Second, 100 butterfly: 54.27, Chloe Diner
- Fifth, 400 medley relay: 3:40.63, Sophia Paduano, Kayla Duran, Chloe Diner, Maggie Adler
Personal Bests:
- Martina Cibulkova, 50 free: 23.44
- Chloe Diner, 100 butterfly: 54.27
- Kennedy Rainwater, 100 butterfly: 57.06
Up Next
The Fighting Illini will conclude the Tim Welsh Classic on Saturday, January 24. Dive competition will commence at 9:45 a.m. CT, while the swimmers will hit the water at 10 a.m. CT. Scheduled events include the 1000 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 400 freestyle relay, and the three-meter dive.
