Ilaria Murzilli swam to a runner-up individual finish to lead Nebraska to the 2021 CSCAA Open Water National Championships team title in Lawrence, Kan., on Friday morning.
Murzilli, a true freshman from Rome, Italy, made her competitive debut for the Huskers by covering the 5,000-meter distance at Lone Star Lake in 1:04.07.6, less than a minute behind individual champion Kate Beavon from Purdue (1:03.09.6). The Boilermakers' top distance swimmer, Beavon finished 10th at the 2021 Big Ten Championships in the 1,650-yard freestyle in her third season at Purdue.
Murzilli was joined in the top five by fellow Husker Shannon Stott.