The Illinois State swimming and diving team placed third for the first day of the Akron Invitational held at Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio. The Redbirds are currently sitting with 378.5 points.
Leading off the 400 Medley Relay was Monique Witkowski, Brittany Armstrong, Julie Cocks and Kyle Pullman. They secured the second place finish with a time of 3:56.61. Swimming in the 200-Yard Freestyle were Armstrong, Witkowski, Pullman and Zaleski making a best time for the Birds with 1:37.00.
Head swimming and diving coach
Steve Paska is pleased with the intensity the athletes swam with today.
I am excited where we are right now, said Paska. I feel that tomorrow the athletes will challenge themselves in the pool to keep us at the third place spot.
Helping the Birds earn the third place spot for the first day of invitational were Katie Finan, Emily Richardson, and Christine Steinbach. The three athletes walked away with personal and season best times. Finan swam the 200 IM with a season best time of 210.59. Richardson had a personal best time in the 500-Yard Freestyle (514.93) while Steinbach placed eleventh in the same event with a personal best time of 507.14.
The diving team for Illinois State helped boost the points for the Birds with a score of 108 points. Kate Johnson placed sixth on the board while Terra Whisman placed seventh.
Head diving coach Carly Weiden is looking forward to tomorrow.
Kate and Terra had an outstanding meet today, said Weiden. It has been our toughest meet we have seen all year and tomorrow the divers will be well rested to start another day.
With two days left of competition, the third-place Redbirds will keep pace wtih their first and second place competitors, Tulane and Ball State.
