Over four days at the Hawkeye Invitational this past week, Illinois (6-0) set personal bests and made its mark on the program’s record books. Out of the nine schools that competed at the invitational, Illinois ended in fourth place.
Jass breaks 200 breaststroke record
In the finale of the four-day stretch, senior Sara Jass made school history. She broke a 16-year-old Illinois record in the 200 breaststroke, swimming 2:12.90 and placing fourth. She beat the previous record, held by Marissa Clapp, by 0.05 seconds.
On the first day of the invitational, Jass set a personal best in the 200 freestyle (1:49.16). She was also part of the 800 freestyle relay team that set the fifth-best program mark and placed fourth, clocking in at 7:16.36. The team consisted of Jass, sophomore Chloe Diner, freshman Hailey Vleck and sophomore Eva Allan.
Jass had yet another personal record on the second day. She improved her own second-best program time during the 200 IM (1:58.66), collecting a silver medal.
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During Day 3, Jass, Diner and sophomores Sophia Paduano and Sophia Yousuf placed first in the 400 medley relay B final, taking fifth overall. They set the third-fastest pace in Illinois history at 3:40.46.
Program milestones
Junior Kalina Nikolaeva set the tone during the first day of competition. She swam a 1:58.60 in the 200 backstroke, good enough for the second-fastest time in program history.
The 200 medley relay team of Paduano, Diner and sophomores Kayla Duran and Isabella Wilhelm reached the fourth-fastest time in program history at 1:39.60.
Paduano led off the 50 backstroke with a 25.11, swimming the third fastest time in school history. Also, in the 50 backstroke, junior Michelle Kaner swam a 25.57, moving her to seventh all-time.
During Day 2, Wilhelm won the C final in the 50 freestyle with a 23.01, the seventh-best time in program history. Senior Liv Dorshorst took first in the 500 freestyle B final with a time of 4:50.20.
On Day 3, Duran collected bronze in the 100 breaststroke and stood out with a time of 1:00.93. Kaner added her own flair in the 100 backstroke. She took the fourth-fastest time in school history (54.10).
Paduano swam the program’s seventh-fastest time (54.50) during the 100 backstroke, and junior Martina Cibulkova set the eighth-fastest time (55.04) in the 100 butterfly.
Day 4 capped the meet when Kaner added her fourth top-10 mark, reaching fourth all-time in the 200 backstroke (1:59.05).
Allan broke into the top-10 in the 100 freestyle before helping the 400 freestyle relay with Jass, junior Maggie Adler and Cibulkova finish with a time of 3:21.27.
Strong diving performances
Illinois divers delivered strong performances across the board.
Junior Matilda Garcia led the way early with an eighth-place finish on the 1-meter. She later qualified third for the 3-meter A final. Junior Ella Crisostomo improved her score to 272.90 in the B final. Sophomore Carlie Rose captured the B final victory with a 221.85.
The biggest impact came from junior Bethany Mercer, who posted the ninth-best score in program history (235.45).
Up next
Illinois takes Thanksgiving week off, but returns to the water on Dec. 6. The team heads to Madison to open its Big Ten season against Wisconsin.
