NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State swim and dive wrapped up day one of the Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Championships from the Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville, Ind.
On the first day of action, the Redbirds claimed 171 points with five student-athletes advancing and competing in the finals of their events.
PRELIMS
In the morning prelim session, Illinois State opened the day with two swimmers advancing to the finals of the 500 Y Free. Sophomore Amelia Murphy led the Redbirds in the event, earning a personal best time of 5:04.14. Sophomore Hope Westphal advanced with a time of 5:08.94.
Senior Giulia Basco advanced to the finals with a time of 2:07.83 in the 200 Y IM. Despite not advancing, Sophomore Avery Watson (2:08.66), Junior Shelby Gourley (2:11.77), and Freshman Megan Sego (2:15.52) earned season-best times.
Senior Mia Snow qualified for the finals in the 50 Y Free with a time of 23.16, a season-best time. Senior Ella Turken joined Snow in advancing to the final with a time of 23.51.
FINALS
The Redbirds opened the finals session with a fifth-place finish in the 200 Y Free Relay as Illinois State's squad of Turken, Davis, Tyler, and Snow recorded a time of 1:32.83. The mark was the fifth-fastest time in program history.
In the 500 Y Free final, Murphy, with a time of 5:03.82, and Westphal, with a mark of 5:04.91, improved on their marks from the prelims. Murphy's time was a new personal best.
Basco recorded a new personal best in the finals of the 200 Y IM with a mark of 2:06.64.
In the 50 Y Free Snow tallied a seventh-place finish with a time of 23.34. Snow's finish is the highest of her career at the MVC Swim and Dive Championships in the event. Turken notched a mark of 23.27, a new season-best for the Englewood, Colo. native.
To close out day one, the Redbirds' 400 Y Medley Relay team of Boulden, Fris, Snow, and Turken earned a fifth-place finish with a time of 3:43.83. The mark is the third-fastest in program history for the event.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will return for day two of the Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at Deaconess Aquatic Center. Action will resume at 10:30 a.m. with event prelims on Thursday morning.
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