The Illinois State swimming and diving team remain in third place (1,122) out of 10 teams after the second day of finals at the Zippy Invitational. Akron is in first (1310), Marshall is in second (1130), Clarion is in fourth (827), and Indiana Pennsylvania is in fifth (639).
Illinois State had a fantastic day with one individual victory and many Redbirds setting new personal best times
Marissa Yontz won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:50.09, which was just shy of her school record (1:50.04).
Yvette Kruk had a solid second day, registering another new personal-best time in the 200-yard freestyle (1:52.65). Katie Breger finished in 12th place in the 100-yard butterfly (57.70), which was a personal-best time.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, Rachel Holm finished in sixth place (1:05.02) earing a new personal best. Rachel Root finished in third place in the 100-yard backstroke (56.49), which was a new personal best time.
Illinois State's 800-yard freestyle relay team, including Yontz, Kristin Verkler, Kruk and Laura Paskoff finished in second place (7:28.44), with the second-fastest time in school history. The 200-yard medley relay team consisting of Samantha Schuckles, Courtney Taylor, Alexis Nash and Katherine Nelson finished in third place (1:43.62). Their time was a seaon best.
Head coach Steve Paska was happy with how the Redbirds competed on their second day of the Zippy Invite.
"Altogether, today was a showing of outstanding team effort with many season- and personal-best times," Paska said. "We crept a little bit closer to second, trailing Marshall by eight points. I am looking forward to seeing how they rise to the challenge for the third day of competition."
Senior diver Wenting Zhang had a solid performance in the 3-meter diving event winning with a score of 348.80. On the first day of competition, Zhang won the 1-meter diving event (291.20).
Head diving coach Phil Hoffmann thought Illinois State's divers had a solid day of diving.
"Wendy had an outstanding day after winning the 3-meter diving event," Hoffmann said. "Kelly Sanks also had a great performance today, finishing in eighth with a score of 213.60 in her first final.
"Today was an all-around good day for us. I am proud of how the girls competed and I look forward to seeing how the team finishes out the rest of the weekend."
The Redbirds enter their final day of the Zippy Invite with the preliminaries tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. and finals at 4 p.m.
Event Breakdown
200-yard medley relay – The Akron team of Ludwika Syznal, Amanda Lawson, Erin Seiler and Hannah Raspopovich won (1:41.65) … ISU's team of Schuckles, Taylor, Nash and Nelson was third (1:43.62).
400-yard IM – Emma Lockyer of Marshall was first (4:23.37).
100-yard butterfly – Seiler won the event (54.21) … Nash finished fifth (56.34).
200-yard freestyle – Yontz won the event (1:50.09) … Paskoff placed fifth (1:52.51) … Kruk was sixth (1:52.65).
100-yard breaststroke – Nikki Young from Bloomsburg won (1:03.47) … Taylor was third (1:03.79) … Holm placed sixth (1:05.02).
100-yard backstroke – Syznal won (54.28) … Root finished third (56.49).
3-meter diving – Zhang won the event (348.80).
800-yard freestyle relay – Marshall won the event (7:27.30) … ISU's team of Yontz, Verkler, Kruk and Paskoff was second (7:28.44)
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