EVANSTON — Lisa Boyce won a fifth-place medal in the 100-yard backstroke at today's IHSA state championship finals at Evanston Township High School, turning in the best performance by any swimmer from Champaign-Urbana.

The junior also placed 11th in the 100 freestyle (fifth in the consolation finals).

In all, Boyce earned 12 points on the day, enough for Uni High to finish in a four-way tie for 27th place with Buffalo Grove, Chicago Latin, and Naperville North. Forty-eight schools, mainly from the Chicago suburban area, scored points at the meet.

Boyce swam the 100 back in 56.56 seconds, slightly slower than the 56.47 she recorded in Friday's state prelims, in which she posted the fourth-fastest time.

Jane Munro, a junior from Evanston Township, won the event in 55.62.

Boyce completed the 100 free in 52.97, also slower than her prelim time of 52.52, which was the 10th fastest on Friday.

Monica Drake, a senior from Bloomington, won the event in 50.14; junior Sara Shaner of Hinsdale Central topped the consolations finals (seventh overall) in 52.42.

Only two other athletes from Champaign-Urbana schools made it to Saturday's championship and consolation rounds. Senior Norah Cetin of Champaign Centennial placed eighth in diving, while senior Mamie Hobbs of Champaign Central took 12th in the 50 free.

Boyce was the only C-U athlete to compete in a championship final, which required a top-six finish in prelims. Swimmers placing seventh to 12th in prelims advanced to the consolation finals.

Centennial ended the day in 35th place (five points), and Champaign Central finished in a five-way tie for 44th (one point).

The last time a Uni female swimmer advanced to the finals was in 1994, when both Megan Flynn and Christine Keller accomplished that feat.

Keller, then a freshman, went on to finish eighth in the 50 free (24.73) and fourth in the 100 back (58.72), while Flynn, a senior, finished seventh in the 200 free (1:53.97) and fourth in the 500 free (5:01.50).

In February 1998, Adam Reynolds qualified for the boys finals. A senior, he finished third in the 200 free (1:43.49) and fifth in the 500 free (4:45.07).

The Uni swimmer who has placed highest at state is Sheila Findley, who won the 100 back as a junior and senior: 1984 (58.03) and 1985 (59.05).

Boyce, a nationally ranked swimmer with the Champaign County YMCA Heat, is in her first season of competing for Uni High. This time next year, assuming Boyce swims again for Uni, don't be surprised if Findley has company in the team record books as a state champion.

Lisa Boyce at IHSA State Finals

100-Yard Backstroke

1. Jane Munro (jr.), Evanston Twp., 55.62
2. Sarah Galvin (sr.), Lisle Benet Academy, 55.96
3. Elisabeth Tavierne (sr.), Aurora Rosary, 56.19
4. Hannah Freyman (so.), Peoria Richwoods, 56.46
5. Lisa Boyce (jr.), UNI HIGH, 56.56
6. Kelly Ryan (jr.), Oak Park Fenwick, 57.04
7. Rebecca Stoughton (so.), Peoria Notre Dame, 57.12
8. Alyssa Busch (sr.), East Moline United, 57.26
9. Alexa Harris (sr.), Moline, 57.39
10. Kelly Dunn (so.), West Chicago, 57.71
11. Margo Stanfa (sr.), Rockford Guilford, 57.80
12. Samantha James (sr.), Winnetka New Trier, 58.10

100-Yard Freestyle

1. Monica Drake (sr.), Bloomington, 50.14
2. Anna Dobben (sr.), Homewood-Flossmoor, 50.74
3. Kelly Hagerty (jr.), Glenbrook South, 50.79
4. Kate Shumway (sr.), Winnetka New Trier, 50.85
5. Erika Ronning (jr.), LaGrange Lyons, 51.86
6. Francesca Finucane (sr.), Palos Hills Stagg, 52.92
7. Sara Shaner (jr.), Hinsdale Central, 52.42
8. Erin Lamb (sr.), Naperville Central, 52.49
9. Emily Waller (sr.), DeKalb, 52.54
10. Maddy Urban (jr.), Winnetka New Trier, 52.60
11. Lisa Boyce (jr.), UNI HIGH, 52.97
12. Emily Hovren (jr.), Normal University, 53.04

Team Standings at IHSA State Finals

1. Aurora Rosary, 184
2. Hinsdale Central, 101
2. Winnetka New Trier, 101
4. Aurora Waubonsie Valley, 85
5. Downers Grove North, 77
6. Evanston Twp., 63
7. Barrington, 60
8. Glenbrook South, 56
9. Oak Park Fenwick, 50
10. Lisle Benet Academy, 45
11. LaGrange Lyons, 44
12. St. Charles North, 41
13. Peoria Notre Dame, 38
14. Bloomington, 34
15. Normal Community, 31
16. Homewood-Flossmoor, 26
16. Oswego East, 26
18. Lincolnshire Stevenson, 24
18. Wheaton Warrenville South, 24
20. Peoria Richwoods, 22
21. DeKalb, 20
21. Palos Hills Stagg, 20
23. Naperville Central, 18
24. St. Charles East, 16
25. Frankfort Lincoln-Way East, 13
25. Sterling Newman Central Catholic, 13
27. Buffalo Grove, 12
27. Chicago Latin, 12
27. Naperville North, 12
27. UNI HIGH, 12
31. Downers Grove South, 11
32. Hoffman Estates Conant, 10
33. Evergreen Park, 7
33. Mundelein, 7
35. Champaign Centennial, 5
35. East Moline United, 5
37. Libertyville, 4
37. Moline, 4
37. West Chicago, 4
37. Wilmette Loyola Academy, 4
41. Naperville Neuqua Valley, 3
41. Palatine, 3
43. Rockford Guilford, 2
44. Champaign Central, 1
44. Chicago St. Ignatius College Prep, 1
44. Lemont, 1
44. Lockport Twp., 1
44. Normal University, 1