NORMAL - High school girls won't swim their peak times for another five weeks, which is hard to believe based on Thursday's Intercity Meet at Normal West.

Pantagraph-area season bests were recorded in nine of the 12 events, with University High leading the way with four.

The Pioneers won seven events en route to 425 points and their 10th title since 1995.

"We came out really hot on the medley relay (the first event) and that set the tone for the whole night," said U High coach Ryan Burroughs.

Defending champion Normal Community was close behind with 391 followed by Bloomington (286) and Normal West (232).

While swimmers dropped their times, BHS junior diver Paige Steffen dropped into the water six times for a pool record score of 217.30 points, the eighth best mark in Pantagraph-area history.

"That was a really good improvement," said the defending champion, whose previous best was 201.15 from last year. "I was really excited with my first dive, my one-and-a-half. It just started me out so good. I think that's what made me dive so well."

Steffen's goal is a top-12 state meet finish along with teammate Kelsey Porter, who placed second in a season best of 199.50.

"They really believe in (diving coach John Becker) and what he can do for them," said BHS head coach Bob Loy.

Also climbing the all-time area list was U High freshman Emily Hovren, who won the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 57.51 seconds to rank ninth in area history.

Hovren also led off the winning 200 freestyle relay with an area-leading split of 25.11 as the Pioneers clocked an area season best of 1:44.25 with help from Michelle Eack (25.41), Ali Taubert (26.83) and Katie Klotzbach (26.90).

Eack was the meet's lone double winner, speeding a season-best 26.02 in the 50 freestyle and taking the 100 freestyle in 56.92. She is reaping the rewards of her first try at year-round training.

"I was really happy with how sectionals turned out last year and I just knew I wanted to keep building on that," said Eack, who had no complaints with the team results.

"Intercity … we don't put a lot of emphasis on it. We just want to look at sectionals and state, but it's always fun to bring the trophy back to U High."

Eack also anchored the winning medley relay (1:57.80) with a 25.50 freestyle leg. Joining her were Kristi Stalter (30.33 backstroke), Klotzbach (33.87 breaststroke) and Kathleen Knight (28.20 butterfly).

"That relay really hadn't clicked for us this year," Burroughs said. "They really came out fast and everything built from there."

Knight tore down her previous best in the 100 butterfly to win in an area-leading 1:00.76 and her teammate, Taubert, captured the 200 individual medley in a season best of 2:20.13.

Junior Lissa Tommerdahl of NCHS defended her title in the 500 freestyle in an area-leading 5:09.98, just missing her career best of 5:08.08 set last year. Her effort Thursday has only been topped by four others in area history.

"I'm pretty excited about it because I wasn't swimming too well earlier in the year," said Tommerdahl, who is coming back from a viral infection. "I think I can go a lot faster than I thought I could at the beginning of the season."

Tommerdahl also contributed a 57.20 split to the winning 400 freestyle relay, which posted an area-topping 3:53.51. Joining her were Lacey Alvis (59.60), Laura Gibson (58.32) and Justine Tarter (58.39).

"I am so impressed and excited for these kids," said NCHS coach Heather Budak referring to her whole team. "I don't think I had one girl who didn't swim a best time tonight."

Normal West junior Alyssa Deffner won the 100 backstroke for the third consecutive year, churning an area-leading 1:01.57.

"I haven't been feeling my best lately so I guess tonight was an OK meet," said Deffner, who set the area record of 1:00.76 in 2004.

"For her to go 1:01 with not feeling well was good for me," said Normal West coach Becky McGrew. "I was proud of the way she swam today."

Rounding out the winners was Morgan Buechele of NCHS in the 100 breaststroke, who needed an area-leading 1:11.14 to hold off Hovren's 1:11.79.