After day one of the Bill Ritter Invitational the Illinois State swimming and diving team sit third place with 276 points following first place Wisconsin-Milwaukee (334.50), and second place Wisconsin-Green Bay (320.50).
Kyle Pullman, Brittany Armstrong, Valerie Zaleski and Monique Witkowski swam the 200-yard freestyle relay and finished fourth with a time of 1:40.29. Christine Steinbach helped the Birds in the 500-yard freestyle event coming in third place with 5:14.58. Following close behind Steinbach was Jenny Klicka with a time of 5:15.98.
In the 200-yard IM, Katie Finan swam hard and placed second with a time of 2:11.59. Helping the Birds score points in the 50-yard freestyle was Pullman who placed third (25.17) while Zaleski in the same event placed ninth (25.64).
Head swimming and diving coach
Steve Paska feels Finan swam with focus and intensity.
Katie had a very solid swim in the 200-yard IM, said Paska. She swam great against UIC last weekend, and she swam strong tonight.
On the diving side, Krystal Featherston placed first on both the one-meter and three-meter boards.
Head diving coach Carly Weiden is proud of the divers.
Krystal had an amazing meet tonight, said Weiden. She scored points to help the team and she really came through on the boards.
The Bill Ritter Invitational concludes tomorrow at Klotsche Center Pool, with session two beginning at 10 a.m. and session three starting a 3:30 p.m.
