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The Illini dive into action at the Big Ten Championships beginning Wednesday night.
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Feb. 15, 2010
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini swimming and diving team returns to action this week to compete in the 2010 Big Ten Championships, Feb. 17-20 hosted by Purdue University.
"This is the focus of our season, so it's an exciting time of year," head coach Sue Novitsky said. "We're resting and getting ready for our peak performances. Our goal is to look to move up in the conference standings, have some breakthrough performances, get some final swims, and hopefully the divers will break through on the boards as well."
Tough competition lies ahead for the Illini, as six Big Ten teams are ranked in the top 25 of the CSCAA Coaches Poll, including No. 10 Minnesota, No. 14 Indiana, No. 16 Michigan, No. 17 Wisconsin, No. 22 Purdue and No. 23 Northwestern.
"We're in one of the top three conferences in the country," Novitsky said. "They're very fast and deep, but we still need to go in with confidence and keep the focus on ourselves. We can't worry about what everyone is ranked. Everyone still has to race and compete."
A true team effort all season long has been one of the major keys to success for the Illini, as several different swimmers have claimed first-place finishes this season. Kristen Manias has enjoyed quite a sophomore campaign, posting a team best seven first-place finishes on the year, in addition to leading the team in the 50 freestyle (24.24). Senior Jen Ivarson has tallied six first-place finishes of her own and is the top Illini in the 200 butterfly (2:04.53), while classmate CeCe Marizu currently boasts team-best times in the 100 and 200 back and has recorded five first-place finishes.
A recap of each day's events will be available on fightingillini.com and the conclusion of competition. The Big Ten Network will air its coverage of the Big Ten Championships on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. CT.
Schedule of Events:
Wednesday, Feb. 17:
1. 200 Medley Relay
2. 800 Freestyle Relay
Thursday, Feb. 18:
Preliminaries: 10 a.m.
1. 500 Freestyle
2. 200 Individual Medley
3. 50 Freestyle
4. One-Meter Diving (Prelims and consolation final)
Finals: 5:30 p.m.
5. 200 Freestyle Relay
6. 500 Freestyle
7. 200 Individual Medley
8. 50 Freestyle
9. One-Meter Diving
Friday, Feb. 19:
Preliminaries: 10 a.m.
10. 400 Individual Medley
11. 100 Butterfly
12. 200 Freestyle
13. 100 Breaststroke
14. Three-Meter Diving (Prelims and consolation final)
Finals: 5:30 p.m.
14. 400 Medley Relay
15. 400 Individual Medley
16. 100 Butterfly
17. 200 Freestyle
18. 100 Breaststroke
19. 100 Backstroke
20. Three-Meter Diving
Saturday, Feb. 20:
Preliminaries: 10 a.m.
21. 200 Backstroke
22. 100 Freestyle
23. 200 Breaststroke
24. 20 Butterfly
25. Platform Diving (Prelims and consolation final)
26. 1650 Freestyle
Finals: 5:30 p.m.
27. 1650 Freestyle (last heat of timed finals)
28. 200 Backstroke
29. 100 Freestyle
30. 200 Breaststroke
31. 200 Butterfly
32. Platform Diving
33. 400 Freestyle Relay
