Results (PDF)
TOPEKA, Kan. - The Fighting Illini Swimming and Diving team wrapped up the three-day Big Challenge in Topeka, Kansas, on Sunday, November 22. Illinois finished third as a team in the competition, while the Big Ten came away victorious with a win over the Big 12 teams of Kansas and Iowa State, as well as the Mid-major pair of Nebraska-Omaha and Northern Iowa.
"Overall this was a very successful meet for the team," said head coach Sue Novitsky. "We kept getting stronger each session and the last session was arguably our strongest. I am proud of the character, competitiveness and resilience that the team showed through the three days. Each athlete kept going back to work to put the pieces together for their races."
The Illini started fast on day one of competition, setting four separate top-10 times on the school's fastest individuals list. The 400 medley relay team of Sloane McDermott, Jennifer Coady, Lori Lynn and Gabrielle Bethke became the third fastest in school history with a time of 3:42.47. Individually, Lynn made another splash in the record book with a time of :23.19 in the 50 free, placing her fourth on the fastest individuals list. In the 200 IM, freshman Gabriele Serniute became the eighth fastest in school history with a time of 2:03.62, while Bethke placed 10 on the list with a time of :23.42 in the 50 free.
UI stayed hot on day two of competition, as 14 more changes were made to the top-10 fastest individuals list. Highlighting the day was Gabbie Stecker, who set the meet record in the 200 free with a time of 1:48.70. Also thrusting themselves on the list, were McDermott (fourth) in the 100 back (:55.99), Coady (fourth) in the 100 breast (1:02.92), Ashley Aegerter (10th) in the 100 breast (1:04.06), Lynn (second) in the 100 fly (:54.51), Bethke and Sarah Sykstus (tied fifth) in the 100 fly (:55.46), Megan Vuong (eighth) in the 100 fly (:55.83) and Audrey Rodawig (10th) in the 100 fly (:55.70).
Two relay teams also entered the record book, as the 200 medley team of McDermott, Coady, Lynn, Bethke finished with the sixth-best mark in school history with a time of 1:42.46. Additionally, the 800 free relay unit of Stecker, Vuong, Rodawig and Amelia Schilling posted a mark of 7:20.42, the fourth-fastest time in the Illinois books.
On the final day of action, the Illini continued their impressive showing with nine more additions to the all-time lists at Illinois. In the 200 back, McDermott and Stecker etched their names in the books with the fourth- and sixth-fastest individual times with marks of 1:59.93 and 2:00.12, respectively.
Bethke (:50.44) and Rodawig (:50.86) both added their marks in the 100 free section of the record book, earning the fourth- and ninth-fastest individual times in Illinois history. Aegerter (2:15.45, sixth) and Coady (2:15.54, seventh) both earned marks on the 200 breast all-time list in addition to earning their first NCAA time standards in the event. Charli Wike registered the 10-fastest individual mark in the event as well. Sykstus notched her name in the fifth-fastest individual slot for the 200 fly when she clocked a 2:01.88. Finally, the 400 free relay group of Rodawig, Vuong, Kirsten Zborek and Bethke posted a time of 3:23.16, which will go into the books as the ninth-fastest Illinois time.
"It was great to see Ashley Aegerter and Jen Coady earn their first NCAA time standards in the 200 breaststroke," shared Novitsky. "The team compiled 64 lifetime-best times over the three days, which is fantastic to see. We made great strides and now we have a great training block to build on the work that we have put in so far this fall." Â
FIRST PLACE FINISHES
500 free – Stecker – 4:48.76 (meet record)
200 free – Stecker – 1:48.70 (meet record)
