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University of Illinois Athletics

CHAMPAIGN, IL - January 17, 2026 - Maggie Adler during the meet between the Nebraska Corn Huskers, Iowa Hawkeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini at the Arc Pool in Champaign, IL. Photo By Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini

Swimming & Diving

Diner Adds Second-Best 100 Fly Time on Day One of Tim Welsh Classic

RECAP

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Illinois swim and dive completed day one of the Tim Welsh Classic on Friday evening, sitting in second place of four teams, with 616 points.

An Illinois swimmer has emerged victorious in the 200 IM in the team's last four meets, dating back to Dec. 6 at Wisconsin. This morning, it was senior Sara Jass who came out on top, taking gold in 2:00.83. Teammate Chloe Diner finished in third, with a time of 2:01.37.

In the final race of the morning, Maggie Adler, Diner, Kayla Duran, and Sophia Paduano swam a 3:40.63 in the 400 medley relay, good for third in the event and fifth all-time in program history. 

On the one-meter boards, freshman Amelia Semple shone, earning third place with a 281.15. Matilda Garcia placed closely behind in fifth with a 277.30, while Bethany Mercer placed seventh, scoring a 276.20.

Diner was a highlight of the evening session, taking bronze in the 100 butterfly with the second-best time in program history (54.27). Prior to this meet, Diner held the seventh-best time, sitting at 54.59. She also placed second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:01.74.

The Fighting Illini concluded the night in strong fashion, with the team of Jass, Diner, Adler, and Hailey Vlcek taking silver in the 800 freestyle relay (7:22.33).

Event Winners:

Top-Ten Program Marks:

Personal Bests:

Up Next

The Fighting Illini will conclude the Tim Welsh Classic on Saturday, January 24. Dive competition will commence at 9:45 a.m. CT, while the swimmers will hit the water at 10 a.m. CT. Scheduled events include the 1000 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 400 freestyle relay, and the three-meter dive. 

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Players Mentioned

Sara Jass

Sara Jass

Breast/IM
Senior
Maggie Adler

Maggie Adler

Free
Junior
Martina Cibulkova

Martina Cibulkova

Free/Fly
Junior
Matilda Garcia

Matilda Garcia

Diving
Junior
Bethany Mercer

Bethany Mercer

Diving
Junior
Chloe Diner

Chloe Diner

IM/Breast
Sophomore
Kayla Duran

Kayla Duran

Breast
Sophomore
Sophia Paduano

Sophia Paduano

Back/Free
Sophomore
Kennedy Rainwater

Kennedy Rainwater

Free
Sophomore
Hailey Vlcek

Hailey Vlcek

Free
Freshman
Amelia Semple

Amelia Semple

Diving
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sara Jass

Sara Jass

Senior
Breast/IM
Maggie Adler

Maggie Adler

Junior
Free
Martina Cibulkova

Martina Cibulkova

Junior
Free/Fly
Matilda Garcia

Matilda Garcia

Junior
Diving
Bethany Mercer

Bethany Mercer

Junior
Diving
Chloe Diner

Chloe Diner

Sophomore
IM/Breast
Kayla Duran

Kayla Duran

Sophomore
Breast
Sophia Paduano

Sophia Paduano

Sophomore
Back/Free
Kennedy Rainwater

Kennedy Rainwater

Sophomore
Free
Hailey Vlcek

Hailey Vlcek

Freshman
Free
Amelia Semple

Amelia Semple

Freshman
Diving