EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Illinois State swim and dive team wrapped up day one of the Missouri Valley Conference Swimming and Diving Championships from the Deaconess Aquatic Center in Evansville, Ind.
After the third day of action, the Redbirds sit in seventh with 475 points, with nine student-athletes advancing and competing in the finals of their events.
PRELIMS
To open day three of the MVC Swimming and Diving Championships, a pair of Redbirds advanced to the finals of the 200 Y Fly. Senior Giulia Basco qualified with a 10th-place finish with a mark of 2:04.97, as Sophomore Avery Watson advanced with a time of 2:07.29.
In the 100 Y Breast, an additional pair of Illinois State swimmers qualified for the final. Freshman Ava Ostendorf advanced with a time of 1:06.92 as Junior Shelby Gourley moved on to the final with a season-best mark of 1:07.65.
To close out the prelims session, five Redbirds qualified for the final in the 100 Y Back. Senior Chloe Tyler earned the highest finish of the group with a sixth-place finish with a mark of 55.80. Senior Delaney Boulden tallied a seventh-place finish with a time of 55.83. Boulden's mark moves her to third all-time in program history in the event.
Sophomore Alexandra Davis earned a spot in the final with a season-best time of 56.92. Sophomore Hailey Fris and Junior Bailey Gott each advanced with a mark of 57.05.
FINALS
To begin the finals session, Basco earned a top-10 finish with a mark of 2:04,24, a new season-best time. Watson earned a time of 2:09.22 in the finals of 200 Y Fly.
In the 100 Y Breast, Ostendorf tallied a season-best time of 1:05.89. Gourley notched a time of 1:09.56.
The Redbirds saw three Redbirds record a top-10 finish in the 100 Y Back final. Boulden led the way, improving on her time and moving to second in program history with a mark of 55.29 to finish sixth. Tyler followed with a seventh-place finish with a mark of 55.60. Fris earned a new personal best with a time of 56.26 to finish in 10th. Fris time moves her to seventh all-time in program history. Gott (56.87) and Davis (56.72) notched personal best times in the final.
The Redbirds' 800 Y Free relay team of Gott, Admire, Westphal, and Murphy wrapped up day three with a time of 7:35.94 to finish sixth.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will return for the final 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 Saturday morning.
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