The Illini (6-0) remain undefeated after their dual meet this weekend. Illinois blew Indiana State (3-2) and Vanderbilt (2-3) out of the water, winning 215-138 and 262-85, respectively.
Diner crushes competition
Sophomore Chloe Diner found gold five times over the course of the weekend. Individually, she won the 100-meter breaststroke (1:02.26) and the 100-meter butterfly (55.47).
Diner also raced in three relays, working with her teammates to reach first in each. Alongside sophomores Sophia Paduano, Kayla Duran and Eva Allen, Diner won the 400-meter medley (3:45.92) with a clear gap. The Sycamores finished at 3:48.65, and the Commodores lagged by nearly seven seconds (3:52.66).
In the 200-meter freestyle relay, sophomore Isabella Wilhelm, junior Maggie Adler, Diner and senior Sara Jass took first (1:33.94).
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The Illini and the Sycamores battled in the 200-meter medley relay: Paduano, Duran, Diner and Wilhelm clinched first (1:43.40) with the Sycamores right behind (1:43.74).
The only one of her races in which Diner didn’t capture gold was the 400-meter IM. Instead, she placed second (4:24.09). In her six races, Diner secured one silver and five gold medals.
Swim team shines
The swim team followed Diner’s footsteps and found success. They took first in six more events.
Jass defeated Diner in the 400-meter IM to take first (4:20.28). She also won the 200-meter breaststroke (2:18.46).
Wilhelm secured a win in the 50-meter freestyle (23.72) and in the 400-meter freestyle relay (3:26.80) alongside Allan, sophomore Sophia Yousuf and Adler.
Allan and Wilhelm placed first and second in the 100-meter freestyle with times of 51.43 and 52.34, respectively. Yousuf won the 200-meter IM (2:06.06), bringing the total swim gold count to 11 for the weekend.
Diving dominates podium
While no diver clinched first in Friday’s three-meter dive, junior Bethany Mercer took second (300.68) and junior Elle Crisostomo placed third (297.75). Both Mercer’s and Crisostomo’s scores represented their personal bests.
In her two previous meets, Mercer scored 273.50 and 280.95 in the three-meter dive, and her score Friday continued that upward trend.
On Saturday, the Illini swept the one-meter dive, taking all three podium positions. Mercer found gold (287.10), Crisostomo followed closely for second (285.75) and junior Elleka Boeres finished third (270.67).
Mercer and Crisostomo blew their previous scores out of the water; each achieved a personal best in their one-meter dive.
With Mercer and Crisostomo leading the way, the dive team made a splash this weekend, winning five of the six medals for their two events.
Up next
The Illini travel to Iowa City for the Hawkeye Invite next week for the four-day meet.
