ST. LOUIS – Illinois State's Rachel Root has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Swimmer of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.
Root, a junior from Monroe, Wisconsin, turned in a strong performance at the Copa Coqui Invitational, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 5, helping the Redbirds to a second-place team finish at the event.
Although Root competed in just one event, she turned in the best possible performance. The junior swimmer took first place in the 100-long-course-meter backstroke, clocking a time of 1:06.55, which was more than a second faster than the second-place finisher.
Root and the rest of the Illinois State swimming and diving team return to action Friday, with a 5 p.m. dual against Northern Iowa at Horton Pool. Admission to the meet is free.
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