The Illinois State swim team slipped one place to third in day two of the Valley championship at Southern Illinois. Julie Cocks led the way for the Birds, defending her titles in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke events.
Cocks posted a personal best time in the 100 back with a 58.46, and won the 100 fly with a 57.50. The Birds scored big in the 100 back, with Monique Witkowski (59.77) taking fourth, Stefanie Starck in seventh (1.01.12) and Chelsea Sanders in eighth (1.02.02). Sanders earned passage into the finals for the event with a swim off, after her time in the prelims tied for eighth-place. Sanders won the swim off after posting her personal best time, 1.00.43, in the prelims.
Several personal bests were posted for the Redbirds, as Katie Finan recorded a 4.34.88 and Jenny Klicka a 4.40.49 in the 400 IM. In the 200 freestyle Jamie Haseman and Casey McKittrick posted personal bests of 1.57.89 and 1.58.64, respectively. Julie Schultz had a personal best in the 100 breaststroke, with a 1.11.87, and Sanders swam a 1.02.10 in the 100 butterfly, for her personal best.
The Birds took third place in the 800 freestyle relay of Finan, Klicka, Heather Norris and Haseman, in a time of 7.51.14. In the 200 medley relay the team earned second. Head coach
Steve Paska was pleased with his teams effort, and anxious to get day three underway.
Today was a great day of competition for everyone, said Paska. SIU extended its lead a little, but the last day has been a strong day for us in the past, and it should be tomorrow, as well. This was an exciting night of swimming and Im anxious to see what the third and final day has in store for us.
The Birds return to conference action for the third and final day of competition in Carbondale at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Prelims are slated for 10 a.m. and finals are set to be held at 5 p.m., with an awards ceremony immediately following the last event.
