CHAMPAIGN — Hannah Newman and the Champaign Central girls' swimming and diving team are making a habit of capturing sectional championships.
The Maroons rolled to a fifth straight crown Saturday, in the process sending three individuals and two relays to the state meet next weekend in Winnetka.
Newman will be the busiest of the bunch. She won the 100-yard freestyle in a school-record 52.57 seconds and placed second in the 200 free behind Centennial standout Audrey Rodawig. Newman's time in that event, 1:55.02, eclipsed the state-qualifying standard to give her another spot at state.
"I tapered (my training) somewhat for this meet, but we're still trying to keep enough in the tank for next weekend, too," said Newman, who qualified in the 200 free and the 100 butterfly a year ago.
Newman also swam a leg on two victorious relays. The 200 medley and the 200 free relays included Sara Fundator, Sarah McGill and Katherine Penwell.
"The relays, we don't really care what time we get, we just have fun," Newman said.
Central's Clare Ramsey won diving with 296.75 points. Penwell was the other Central champ, taking the 500 free in 5:20.82.
Rodawig was a dual winner, also capturing the 100 fly in a solid 56.90.
Runner-up Urbana will send Gabi Rajic, who won the 50 free in 24.42, edging teammate Kirsten Slaughter by 0.03. Slaughter's time was good enough to advance to state. Rajic also made the qualifying cut while finishing second in the 100 free (53.12).
Danville's Kristin Verkler won the 200 individual medley in 2:16.61 and also advanced in the 100 fly (59.33), in which she placed second while hitting the state cut. Verkler also led the Vikings' winning 400 free relay (Paris Bragorgos, Grace Jackowski, Emily Bowman).
Urbana Uni's Milee Nelson won the 100 back.
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