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Illini of the Week

MARISSA CLAPP

Swimming

After swimming the fastest 200-yard freestyle of her life, the Illini senior directed her attention to a much-bigger target in the final home meet of her college career.

Clapp's aim was bull's-eye accurate.

The former Bismarck-Henning standout broke a 13-year-old pool record Saturday, finishing the 400 individual medley in 4 minutes, 21.28 seconds during a dual meet against Illinois State at the Activities and Recreation Center. The previous mark of 4:22.0 by Decatur native Anne Kampfe of Michigan had stood since 1996.

"She swam a great race, relaxed but pressing at all the right spots," Illini coach Sue Novitsky said.

It was the second of two victories by Clapp, who earlier won the 200 free in a career-best 1:54.13.

"So she's feeling pretty good about herself at that point," Novitsky said. "We basically told her it's your last chance at the (400 IM) pool record, so go for it."

Clapp went for it without the benefit of a close pursuer to push her along. Teammate Ann Miller finished a distant second in 4:33.56.

Turns out, Clapp didn't need the prodding of a heated race to break the record. Novitsky wasn't surprised.

"She's good at pushing herself," the UI coach said. "Sometimes, that's when Marissa is at her best – when she has wide-open water."

The pool record was not a personal best for Clapp, who ranks third on the UI all-time 400 IM list at 4:20.14. She swam that time at the 2008 Big Ten Championships.

Bound for China

Five members of the Illini hockey club were chosen by USA Hockey to play in the Winter World University Games next month in Harbin, China. The 22-player U.S. University Select team includes UI defensemen Pierce Butler and Brad Hoelzer; and forwards J.J. Heredia, Johnny Liang and Jordan Pringle.

In addition, three other Illini were named alternates who could join the U.S. roster if any of the original selections is unable to make the trip. They are defenseman Patrick Mannina and forwards Tom Connell and Jason Nemeth.

The team leaves for China on Feb. 14. The Games are scheduled Feb. 18-28. That means Illinois will be without at least five of its best players for the final four regular season games – critical conference series against Lindenwood and Iowa State – as well as the CSCHL tournament in Dearborn, Mich.

"That's going to make it even more difficult for us, but it's an opportunity for some of our guys to play a bigger role," Cassel said. "It's such a great opportunity."

Classic competition

The Illini men's track and field team will get an up-close look at the three-time defending NCAA outdoor champions when it travels this weekend to Lincoln, Neb.

Florida State headlines a five-team field at Saturday's adidas Classic that also includes host Nebraska, Kansas and Wichita State.

"It's going to be a heck of a meet," UI coach Wayne Angel said.

Seminoles opponents no doubt are thankful they no longer have to contend with two-time Olympic bronze medalist sprinter Walter Dix, an eight-time NCAA champion and 18-time All-American. But FSU clearly remains a formidable team with the likes of Olympian Gonzalo Barroilhet, the defending NCAA champion in the heptathlon; and Charles Clark, the 2008 NCAA runner-up in the indoor 200 meters.

"They're going to be a force to be reckoned with," Angel said.

The UI coach will look for a bounceback performance from two-time All-American Gakologelwang Masheto. Last Saturday, the Botswana Olympian placed fifth in the 400 at the Carle/Health Alliance Invitational at the UI Armory in a much-anticipated duel against Georgia standouts Justin Gaymon and Torrin Lawrence.

Angel said Masheto lost the race in the early meters.

"We didn't think Torrin Lawrence was going to go out that fast," the Illini coach said, "and the Gaymon kid kind of closed the gate."

Illini freshman Andrew Riley, who won the Carle/Health Alliance high jump, is headed to the Wisconsin Elite Invitational on Saturday and Sunday. The two-time Jamaica national heptathlon champ will enter the heptathlon at the Madison, Wis., meet. How he fares will help Angel decide whether Riley concentrates on the multi-events or focuses on the high jump and the 60 hurdles. Riley finished second to Gaymon in the latter event last weekend.

In fast company

The Illini women's gymnastics team will be joined by two other Top 15 squads Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, for a quadrangular meet. The fourth team should feel like it belongs, too, in this caliber of company.

The field for the 6 p.m. meet includes No. 13 Missouri, No. 14 Ohio State, No. 15 Illinois and No. 26 Michigan State.

"Ohio State probably is the most consistent out of the group," Illini coach Bob Starkell said. "Missouri is extremely talented. And Michigan State, I think, is waiting to hit on all of its events."

Illinois is coming off a loss to No. 27 Iowa that would have been a victory with a better start. Two "crashes" in the vault by Sarah Schmidt and Lindsey Smith put the Illini in an early hole last Saturday at Huff Hall. Although Illinois rallied thereafter, Starkell's squad ultimately lost to the Hawkeyes by 0.55 point.

"We had some obstacles in the first event and were able to regroup," he said.

Schmidt sustained a knee injury during her mishap on the vault and is listed as doubtful for Saturday's trip. If the junior can't compete, Illinois will be without one of its top floor exercise and uneven bars performers.

"It mixes up the lineup," Starkell said of Schmidt's possible absence. "It's an opportunity to use some other people to good advantage."

One of those could be Melissa Fernandez, who sustained an ankle injury in the season opener. The sophomore competed in two events against Iowa and appears ready to add a third – either floor exercise or vault – on Saturday.

Meanwhile, All-American Allison Buckley continues to make a faster-than-expected comeback from preseason foot and ankle surgery. After missing the season opener, Buckley competed in two events in her 2009 debut and added a third against Iowa. The only event she hasn't attempted in competition is vault.

"If not this weekend, then the next I look for her to be back in all-around," Starkell said.

Last call

The Illini women's swimming and diving team heads to Minneapolis this weekend for its final tuneup for next month's Big Ten Championships.

Illinois will be joined in the Big Ten Quad Duals by host Minnesota, Wisconsin and Purdue. Minnesota is ranked No. 9 and Wisconsin No. 17 in the coaches' Top 25 poll, which was scheduled to be updated today. The two-day meet begins Friday.

"It's a chance to compete against some of the highest-end competition in the conference and nationally," Novitsky said.

The Illini enter 5-1 in dual meets, their most victories since the 2005-06 season. But Novitsky won't gauge her team's performance this weekend on the team scores.

"We're focusing on ourselves," Novitsky said. "It's that time of year when kids can be really fast one day and not fast the next. We're working on cleaning up (technique) details and making improvements like we have been the last couple weeks."

Road to nationals

Here's one more sign of the progress Illini women's tennis is making under third-year coach Michelle Dasso: Illinois is one of 60 teams competing in the inaugural ITA Kick-off Weekend. The event will determine 15 of the 16 schools in next month's ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championships (host Wisconsin receives an automatic invitation).

To get to nationals, Illinois must go 2-0 this weekend at Palo Alto, Calif. – one of the 15 four-team qualifying meets around the nation. The No. 37 Illini are seeded second in their qualifier and will open against No. 39 Nevada-Las Vegas on Friday. The winner will face the survivor of No. 5 Stanford vs. No. 57 Colorado on Saturday.

Previously, the national field was selected on subjective criteria. Dasso is a fan of the new method.

"You earn your way into it based on your current team," Dasso said. "In the past it was based on last year's performance, and teams lost players to graduation. This way is a little more fair."

Dasso is eager to see how her team responds, particularly if it ends up squaring off against highly ranked Stanford. The Cardinal reached the NCAA quarterfinals last spring.

"It's going to be a huge learning and growing experience for our team," Dasso said.

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