BLOOMINGTON - The backstroke's loss became excitement's gain in the Intercity Swim Meet at Bloomington High School on Thursday.

Normal West's Alyssa Deffner could have won her fourth 100-yard backstroke title by a mile, but instead tested her endurance in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.

The shorter race against defending champion Emily Hovren of University High was among the fastest battles in area history with Hovren winning in a season best 1 minute, 55.38 seconds while Deffner motored a school record 1:56.80.

Hovren missed her career best of 1:54.14, but only she and four others in area history have gone faster. Deffner climbed to eighth in area history.

Hovren doubled back to win the 50 freestyle (25.27) to help U High snare its second straight title and 11th in 13 years.

The point table was a monument to parity as the Pioneers scored 369 followed by Normal Community at 321. Tying for third at 314 were Normal West and BHS. The gap from first to last a year ago was 193.

With only 10 swimmers, U High coach Ryan Burroughs asked his three divers to help on relays and other events.

"We pulled out all the tricks," he said.

No meet entrant climbed higher on the all-time area list than BHS diver Paige Steffen, whose winning career-best of 225.05 points ranks fifth.

"I did not really enjoy my first two dives," said the three-time champion. "I ended strong, which is why my score looks like it's good. I feel like I could do a lot better, which I guess is good."

Deffner's relatively rare foray in the 500 freestyle produced a school record 5:12.91, the No. 9 mark in area history.

"That was pretty good for not training in it," said the area record holder in the 100 backstroke. "Last weekend I swam it (in 5:15.34) and it was kind of like a fluke."

First-year Normal West coach Kate Gudeman had no complaints with the way Deffner handled Thursday's test.

"Nobody told me she was that good at the 500," said Gudeman, whose star dipped under the state qualifying standards in both events besides leading off the winning 200 medley relay.

Deffner turned in a 28.61 backstroke leg to that 1:59.40 relay, which included Heather Fahrenkrug, Kiley Swearingen and Lauren Drury.

Hovren also swam on a winning relay as she rallied U High to a 1:47.63 in the 200 freestyle relay with a 24.42 to nip the 1:47.83 of NCHS. Her partners were Lauren Miller, Katie Klotzbach and Ali Taubert.

Hovren welcomed Deffner's presence in the 200 freestyle.

"With Alyssa there, that really helped me get moving and gave me some competition," Hovren said.

The only other double winner was Mandy Penland of BHS, who overcame a calf injury to lower her career best in the 200 individual medley to 2:17.68 and her career best in the 100 backstroke to 1:04.24.

"She's very fun to coach because she gives her all every time she gets in the pool," said BHS coach Bob Loy.

U High's Kathleen Knight defended her 100 butterfly title in a season best 1:01.16 despite a neck injury from powder puff football. Morgan Buechele of NCHS repeated as the 100 breaststroke winner in 1:12.02.

The surprise of the meet was No. 4-seeded Jenny Turner of NCHS winning the 100 freestyle in a career best 58.44.

"She didn't know how to do a flip turn her freshman year," said Coach Heather Budak. "Now she's a junior and the Intercity champ. I couldn't be more excited."

Turner also had a hand in the meet's most exciting finish as her 400 freestyle relay won a see-saw battle with U High, 3:50.71 to 3:50.75. Turner split 57.92 and Buechele 56.38 and were joined by Lacey Alvis and Emily Finamore.