NORMAL, Ill.- The Iowa State swimming and diving team left it to the final race Friday at Horton Pool in Normal. A victory by the 200 free relay team of Abby Glaser, Frances Calzada, Chelsea Tomek and Kalyn Amundsen gave the Cyclones a 128-115 victory over Illinois State. ISU also defeated Evansville 150-93.
“Hats off to Illinois State for swimming an outstanding meet, they came ready to compete,” Iowa State head coach Duane Sorenson said. “We had to win the last relay and they did.”
Iowa State received another strong meet from freshman Dani Harris. The Clive, Iowa native won the 200 IM with a time of 2:08.82, good for 14th best in school-history. Harris also took the 200 back in 2:06.41, good for 15th-best in school history.
“We had to ask some people to step up tonight,” Sorenson said. “Dani did great in the 200 IM and 200 back. It was the first time she had swam the 200 back in a college meet.”
Another new face to make an impact on the meet was Marley Suckow. Suckow swam the breaststroke leg for the winning 400 medley relay team and also posted a victory in the 200 breast. She did this in the absence of All-Big 12 swimmer Jeli Nixt, who was out due to illness.
“Marley was put in the position to become our number one breaststroker and she stepped up and did a great job,” Sorenson said.
Senior Nan Liu also posted a pair of victories, leading off for the winning 400 medley relay team and taking the 100 free. She also finished second in the 50 free.
Senior Tien Tran earned her first two victories of the season, sweeping the 1-meter (276.95) and 3-meter (278.50) competitions. Junior Abby Christensen contributed a third-place finish on the 1-meter (245.85).
“Overall, I was happy with how they performed,” diving coach Jeff Warrick said. “Without there being a separate diving well, that really limited their preparation time and they responded well. Tien was great on both boards and Abby had a good night on 1-meter.”
The Cyclones have a quick turnaround as they travel to Champaign to face the Illinois Fighting Illini Saturday at 1 p.m.
