Another great day led the Illinois State swimming and diving team to a third place finish at the Giant Eagles Zips Invitational held in Akron, Ohio. The Birds have one more day to hold onto third place as finals will conclude Sunday. Currently the Redbirds stand with 842.5 points following second place Tulane (884.5) and first place Ball State (933.0)
In the leading 200 Yard Medley event Monique Witkowski, Brittany Armstrong, Julie Cocks and Kyle Pullman placed second for the Birds with a time of 1:47.45. Katie Finan placed fourth in the 400 IM with a personal best time of 4:33.81.
Head swimming and diving coach
Steve Paska feels confident in the athletes to hold the third place spot.
The athletes had another great day of swimming and diving, said Paska. Now the challenge is trying to maintain our position along with keeping the athletes excited for one more day of competition.
Jamie Haseman had a personal best time in the 200 Yard Freestyle of 156.23 placing eighth for the Redbirds while Jenny Klicka made a personal best in the same event with a time of 156.05. Armstrong swam solid for the Birds and placed third in the 100 Yard Breaststroke making a personal best time of 105.84.
Armstrong had a solid swim, said Paska. Her previous personal best time in this event was 107.51 that she made last year; she really came back today and dropped her time in this event.
The Redbird divers helped to keep the excitement in the air in Ocasek Natatorium with Krystal Featherston and Terra Whisman both placing for finals. Featherston placed third on the three meter board with a score of 397.65 while Whisman placed for finals on both boards with a score of 351.00.
Head diving coach Carly Weiden is proud of Whismans consistency throughout this meet.
Terra stood out this weekend in Akron, said Weiden. She was very consistent on both boards. The athletes really had a solid meet.
The Redbirds have six events left with the invitational concluding Sunday.
