Junior Illinois State swimmer Katie Finan helped the Birds to secure a second place finish at the Bill Ritter Invitational held this weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Setting a new pool record, Finan swam the 400-yard IM placing first with a time of 4:35.64. The Redbirds finished with 889 points following first place Wisconsin-Green Bay (1028.50).
Freshman Christine Steinbach had a great day in the pool when she took second in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 18.00.15. Along with taking second in the 1650, she also finished fourth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:58.99). Junior Monique Witkowski swam the 100-yard backstroke and placed sixth at 1:01.76 and then placed second in the 100-yard freestyle at 54.87. .
Sophomore Lisa Hanrahan scored points for the Birds in the 100-yard butterfly where she took fourth place with a time of 1:01.28. Hanrahan had a personal best time in the 200-yard butterfly finishing with (2:18.37). Freshman Tracy Deyell finished seventh in the 100-yard butterfly at 1:01.42. Deyell also placed second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:12.99) and following closely in the same event was Finan in third at 2:13.06.
The Birds wrapped up the invitational with a second place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay. Jenny Klicka, Steinbach, Finan and Jaime Haseman all contributed to a strong swim finishing at 8:00.56. Freshman Emily Richardson followed her teammates intense lead and finished third in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:12.49.
Head swimming and diving coach
Steve Paska believed that the team could have taken first place at the invitational.
We were a little sluggish today, said Paska. If everyone on the team was at their top condition, we would have been great competition for Green Bay. The swimmers that were at their top condition did perform admirably, and now all we can do is wait for next year.
The Redbirds return to the pool on Saturday, Jan. 29 to face Wisconsin-Green Bay. The meet is slated to begin at 10 a.m.
