Day 1 Results
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Illinois swim and dive opened day one of the Big Ten Championships on Wednesday evening, competing in the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. As a team, they sit tied for 11th place, with 62 points.
Sophia Paduano, the very first swimmer in the competition pool for Illinois, broke a school record as the leadoff leg of the 200 medley relay, swimming her 50 backstroke in 24.68, surpassing the previous school record of 24.77, set by Suvana Baskar at the same meet in 2024.Â
As a team, the 200 medley relay of Paduano, Kayla Duran, Chloe Diner, and Isabella Wilhelm earned the second-best time in program history, a 1:38.44. Duran and Wilhelm were also part of the team that set the current school record (1:37.96) last season.
In the final event of the evening, the 800 free relay, the team of Sara Jass, Diner, Maggie Adler, and Martina Cibulkova added the sixth-fastest time in program history, 7:16.74.
The Illini return tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 19, beginning at 10 a.m. for swimming trials, with finals at 5:30 p.m. Day two swim events include 100 butterfly, 400 IM, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and the 200 freestyle relay. The Orange and Blue divers will compete on the one-meter beginning at noon, with dive finals also part of the 5:30 p.m. program. Full information can be found on Championship Central.
School Records
Sophia Paduano, 50 back: 24.68
Top-Ten Program Marks
Personal Bests
