NORMAL, Ill. – After a six-week hiatus from competition, the Illinois State swimmers return to the pool tomorrow when they battle Florida Gulf Coast, Liberty and Tulane in Fort Myers, Florida.
The first event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT at the outdoor FGCU Aquatics Complex. The meet will be scored as separate duals, meaning each team will be scored individually against the other three opposing teams.
Scouting the Redbirds
Illinois State jumps in the pool for the first time in 2020 this weekend, after last competing at the three-day Purdue Invite, Nov. 21-23. The Redbirds were led by senior Kierston Farley-Sepe, who broke a trio of school records, including the long-standing 200-yard butterfly record, finishing the event in 1:59.59. Every Redbird swimmer showed season improvements in their respective individual events, while several turned in lifetime best performances. This meet highlights Illinois State's final non-conference showdown, as the Redbirds are set to return to Horton Pool on Jan. 18 for its first of two final conference meets during the regular season.
Scouting the Field
The Redbirds are set to take on a trio Division I teams – FGCU, Liberty and Tulane – at the one-day event. The host Eagles have remained in the top 50 of CollegeSwimming.com's Division I Mid-Major rankings throughout the season, checking in at No. 31 heading into this weekend. They are led by junior Petra Halmai, who ranks No. 28 nationally in the 200-yard breaststroke and has received CCSA Swimmer of the Week honors three times this season. Liberty, a conference foe of FGCU, will be battled tested this weekend, beginning with a dual meet at No. 7 Florida on Friday night. The Flames have won 17-consecutive CCSA dual meets, a streak that began in 2017. Tulane is looking for its first dual meet win of the season this weekend. Despite their tough start, the Green Wave are led by senior Olivia Johnson, who has clocked in a pair of qualifying standards for the 2020 Olympic Trials.
Schedule of Events
- 200 medley relay, 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard IM, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly
- 3-meter diving break (no ISU competitors)
- 100-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke
- 1-meter diving break (no ISU competitors)
- 400-yard freestyle relay
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