Jan. 22, 2005
IOWA CITY, IA –
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The Iowa women’s swimming & diving team lost a heartbreaker to Illinois Saturday afternoon at the Fieldhouse Pool. The Hawkeyes led by one point with only one event remaining, but could not defeat Illinois in the 400 free relay and fell 152-148. Junior Kelly Werner tallied two individual first-place finishes for the Hawkeyes, while senior diver Lisette Planken swept the one- and three-meter diving events. With the loss, the Hawkeyes fell to 0-3 in Big Ten competition.
The Hawkeyes got off to a great start, taking first and third place in the 400 medley relay. Jennifer Skolaski, Katie Haeger, Kelly Werner and Abby VanMaaren, of Iowa A, took top honors with a season-best time of 3:51.08. Iowa B, comprised of Caitlin Girdley, Kristen Eide, Andrea Hemphill and Erin Cochran, came in third, posting a time of 3:58.93.
Despite Illini victories in the 1,000 and 200 free, Iowa took top honors in both the 100 back and 200 fly events. Junior Kelly Werner was the top finisher in the 100 back with a time of 57.89 while fellow junior Andrea Hemphill was first in the 200 fly (2:07.17).
In the 50 free, Illini sophomore Barbie Viney swam to her second first-place finish of the afternoon, winning the event with a time of 23.35. Iowa senior Abby VanMaaren took second (24.27) and junior Katie Martin was fourth (24.62). After seven events, the Hawkeyes trailed Illinois 70-61.
The Hawkeyes dominated the competition in the one-meter diving competition. Planken took top honors with a score of 297.15. Junior Nancilea Underwood came in second (281.32) while senior Katie Bures was third (225.90).
In the 100 free, Illinois’ Viney set a Fieldhouse Pool record, swimming a 50.84 for first place. Martin was the Hawkeyes’ top performer in the event, taking third with a time of 52.83.
Iowa cut Illinois’ lead to two points after taking the top two spots in the 200 back. Werner claimed her second first-place finish of the afternoon, timing a 2:02.91. Skolaski swam to a second-place finish, clocking a 2:04.69.
Illinois responded by taking the top two spots in the 200 breast and the top four spots in the 500 free. Senior Kristen Eide was the top performer for Iowa in the 200 breast, taking third with a time of 2:25.86. Junior Erica Noah took fifth for the Hawkeyes (5:09.34) in the 500 free.
In the 100 fly, Werner added a second-place finish to her two top honors, finishing in a time of 58.09. Hemphill took third for Iowa (58.34) while Erin Petty was fourth (59.35). After 13 events, Iowa trailed Illinois 133-112.
The Hawkeyes continued their dominance of diving as they swept the top three spots in the three-meter diving event. Planken tallied her second first-place finish of the afternoon, finishing with 332.03 points. Underwood was second (304.73) and Bures was third (228.15). The Hawkeye divers cut Illinois’ lead to eight points (136-128).
Iowa took the lead in impressive fashion as Skolaski and Eustis took the top two places in the 200 IM. Skolaski timed a 2:08.76 for first and Eustis timed a 2:08.95 for second. Iowa led 142-141 with one event remaining.
In the final event of the afternoon, Illinois took first place and fourth place, which was enough to lift them to a 152-148 victory. Iowa A, comprised of Martin, VanMaaren, Karen Kelly and Katie Haeger, took second for the Hawkeyes (3:28.88) while Hemphill, Noah, Robin Samples and Cochran, of Iowa B, took third (3:33.35).
The Hawkeyes return to action January 29 as they host Big Ten opponents Northwestern and Ohio State. Competition is slated to begin at 1 p.m. at the Fieldhouse Pool.