Dec. 31, 2008
Results
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -
The Illinois State swimming and diving team achieved a first-place finish in the first of two on-the-road competitions Wednesday at the Ed Kennedy Memorial Invitational in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. as the Redbirds concluded competition with a score of 240 points, claiming victory over eight teams. The Redbirds' 200-meter and 400-meter relay teams stood out amongst competition, as they claimed first place finishes for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds swam a long-course meter race, comprised entirely of relay events at the invitational. Finishing first in two of the six relay events, were the 200-meter freestyle relay (freshmen Lauren Boyd, Jessica McGee, sophomore Lauren Terzis, and senior Jessica Santi) and 400-meter freestyle relay (sophomore Amy Schaefer, Terzis, and freshmen Sarah Coghlin, and Boyd) teams who helped lead the `Birds to victory.
The 200-meter freestyle relay ended the race with a first-place time of 1:55.64. Following suit, the 400-meter freestyle relay team took first as they finished the race with a time of 4:14.17.
"It was great for the team to have the opportunity to race and compete again," said head swimming and diving coach Steve Paska. "The girls had a great experience and they swam well after a long day of travel."
Rounding out the competition was Middlebury College who finished second with a final score of 210 points, and St. Francis University and Kutztown University who tied for third place with a final score of 204 points.
The Redbirds will continue competition in Florida as they head into the Florida Atlantic Invitational Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009. The `Birds will begin action at 10 a.m. as they take on Florida Atlantic, Pennsylvania, Brown, North Texas State, and Maryland in hopes of coming out victorious.
Facing tough competition, Paska is excited to see how the Redbirds will perform as they head into the second part of their season.
"This meet will be a building block for the dual-meet season that lies ahead as we face Ball State, Illinois, and Wisconsin-Green Bay in January," Paska said. "It is important to see where the girls are as the second half of the season begins."
The Florida Atlantic Invitational will be the final of two competitions in Florida for the `Birds.
