SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The Illinois State swimming and diving team concluded its annual training trip at the 12th annual Copa Coqui Invitational Tuesday, taking second place out of four teams.
The Redbirds had a total point score of 37, behind Connecticut, who took first with 41 points. St. Cloud State took third and Minnesota State-Moorhead took fourth.
Several Redbirds made key contributions Tuesday. Kristin Verkler raced to a first-place finish in the senior 100-long-course-meter butterfly event, swimming a time of 1:08.27 seconds. Rachel Root who also swam to first place in the senior long-course-meter backstroke event (1:06.55).
Savannah Rubocki placed second in the senior 100-long-course-meter freestyle event with a time of 1:02.68 seconds, while Courtney Taylor earned a third-place finish in the senior 100-long-course-meter breaststroke event (1:18.62).
The Redbird team of Sarah Thomas, Laura Paskoff, Rachel Holm and Taylor also captured first place in the senior 200-long-course-meter freestyle relay, swimming a time of 1:52.69 seconds.
Illinois State head swimming coach Scott Cameron was pleased with his team's effort Tuesday.
"We are approaching the end of our training trip and it's great to see the team swim fast and put up some lifetime-best, long-course times," said Cameron.
The Redbirds will return to Illinois later this week to prepare for their next two home meets, Jan. 15, against Northern Iowa, and Jan. 22, against Evansville, both held at Horton Pool.
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