Illinois (4-0) kept its winning streak going at home this weekend. The Illini stayed strong both days, beating the Southern Illinois Salukis (3-3) 272-78 and Illinois State Redbirds (1-5) 203-143 in the three-way matchup.
Golden Friday night
After a strong start to the season, the Illini continued to rack up medals this weekend. Illinois finished ahead Friday night, leading both its opponents.
The night began on a high note with the 200 medley relay. Sophomores Sophia Paduano, Kayla Duran, Chloe Diner and Isabella Wilhelm took gold, cruising through the water at 1:40.92.
The medley team’s members continued their strong play into their individual events, as well. Wilhelm collected a gold medal in the 50 freestyle (23.52) and Paduano earned a silver in the 100 backstroke (55.07). Diner doubled up on silver medal finishes in the 200 breaststroke (2:16.40) and the 100 IM dive (56.26).
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Senior Liv Dorshorst placed first in the 1,000 freestyle (10:04.82). Sophomore Taylor Judas took second with a new personal best (10:13.93). The silver streak continued as senior Sara Jass took second in the 200 freestyle (1:50.21), followed by sophomore Sophia Yousuf in the 100 butterfly (56.39).
The night ended strongly for the swimmers with a gold win from the 400 freestyle relay team of Jass, Yousuf, Wilhelm and sophomore Eva Allan (3:23.29).
The divers kept their strong season rolling in the three-meter event, where junior Matilda Garcia led the way for her team, taking gold with a score of 300.75. Junior Elleka Boeres took second place (298.65), sophomore Carlie Rose finished third (285.38) and junior Bethany Mercer took fourth (280.95).
Success continues Saturday
Saturday morning started just as strongly as Friday for the Illini. The 400 medley relay team of Paduano, Duran, Diner and Allan took silver with the eighth-fastest time in program history (3:41.79). Garcia took gold in the one-meter dive with another new top-ten program mark (288.98).
The medals kept coming for the group when Diner collected silver in the 200 IM (2:02.06). Duran followed with another second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.27). Dorshorst captured first in the 500 freestyle (4:55.19).
The Illini grabbed another event win when senior Alexis Wendel sped to first in the 200 butterfly (2:04.01). Junior Kalina Nikolaeva collected silver in the 200 backstroke (2:00.47) and senior Adelaide Reaser did the same in the 200 butterfly (2:05.66).
In the one-meter dive event, Mercer took silver (282.98), followed by junior Elle Crisostomo with a bronze finish (275.78). Both scores represented new personal bests.
Up next
Illinois gets a break next weekend as it prepares for another three-way matchup against Indiana State (3-0) and Vanderbilt (1-0) in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Nov. 7-8.
