NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State swimming and diving team returns to action tomorrow, when they travel to Champaign, Illinois, for double dual action against Illinois and Southern Illinois.
Thursday's meet will mark the Illini's annual Paint the Pool Pink event, as Illinois will honor breast cancer fighters, survivors and their families. The meet will feature giveaways, such as pink cupcakes, pink lemonade and free pink Join the Fight t-shirts with any donation, in efforts to raise money for the Mills Breast Cancer Institute. All three teams will be wearing specialty caps during the meet.
Scouting the Redbirds
Illinois State enters Thursday's meet with a 1-0 dual record on the season, earning a victory over Butler. In the season opener, five Redbirds – Julia Oostman, Katie Tillotson, Jensen Keck, Kierston Farley-Sepe and Caroline Lecoeur – each won a pair of individual events. The Redbirds also took both diving events at the meet, as Lecoeur top scores in the 1-meter (281.18) and the 3-meter diving (298.58). The junior was recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference Diver of the Week on Tuesday.
Scouting the Illini
The Illini competed against Northwestern and UIC last weekend, falling to the Wildcats and defeating the Flames. Kristin Anderson came away with two individual event victories in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle, while Abby Cabush earned a win in the 200 freestyle. On the boards, Taylor Shegos placed first in the 1-meter diving competition for Illinois with a six-dive total of 278.80.
Scouting the Salukis
Southern Illinois is undefeated this season in dual action, opening with victories over McKendree, Valparaiso and Bellarmine. Laura Carver led the way for the Salukis their double-dual sweep of Valparaiso and Bellarmine, coming away with three first-place finishes in the 200-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley. Baobao Ji swept the diving competition, finishing with a score of 319.35 in the 1-meter and a score of 326.40 in the 3-meter diving competition, to sit atop the leaderboard. She was named MVC Diver of the Week on Oct. 8.
Schedule of Events
- 400-medley relay, 1000-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle,100-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly, 50-yard freestyle
- 1-meter diving
- 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, 200-yard breaststroke, 500-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly
- 3-meter diving
- 200-yard IM, 400-freestyle relay
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