CHAMPAIGN – Nicola Homenock would be known as a prime-time performer if she were a basketball player.

For some reason, the evening hours seem to bring out the best in the University of Illinois sophomore swimmer.

"I always seem to swim better in the finals in the evening than I do in the heat races in the mornings," the native of London, Ontario, said. "I don't know whether it is mental or the better competition, but it's certainly to my advantage."

UI coach Jim Lutz says Homenock's mornings aren't near the concern they were last season.

"For whatever reason," Lutz said, "there are swimmers whose morning performances are not indicative of what they can do at night. Still, Nicola is swimming good enough in the morning this season to set herself up for the night swims."

While Homenock's Saturday morning efforts in the Illini Classic at the IMPE Pool didn't produce prime-time clockings, they were good enough to win.

"I wasn't all that happy with my times," Homenock said after winning the 100-yard butterfly in 58.42 seconds and the 200 freestyle in 1:54.58 to extend her unbeaten streak to 13 consecutive races.

"A lot of us are pretty sore. We are all swimming in at least three individual events and one relay. We're using this as a preparation for a quadrangular meet next week in Minnesota."

Homenock is on her way to being the most improved swimmer on the UI squad this season after being named the team's newcomer of the year as a freshman. She was named the Big Ten Conference Swimmer of the Month in December.

"Her times in the 500 freestyle and the 200 butterfly already are matching her times in the Big Ten meet last year when she was rested," Lutz said. "Nicola's versatility is outstanding, and her distance freestyles have vastly improved.

"The 400 individual medley is one of her strong events. The IM is swimming's version of the decathlon. You have to be strong in all four events as you swim 100 yards in each. While the IM shows your strengths, your weaknesses become glaring."

Homenock attributes her relatively slow start last year to being out of swimming for a year and a half.

"I'd competed in Canada ever since I was 8 years old," Homenock said. "I swam for the London Aquatic Club throughout high school. I even competed in the Olympic Trials in 1992 at age 15. I really missed swimming. I was really bored. I had too much free time. I wanted to meet more people again."

Homenock's original plans were to attend McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Then her father was transferred to Chicago and the family moved to Naperville.

"Coach Lutz had recruited me in high school," Homenock recalled. "When I found out we were moving, I contacted him right away. I told him my times, and he said I was more than welcome to come out for the team."

Lutz was overjoyed with Homenock's decision.

"We'd lost touch some way when she contacted me and asked if I thought she could make the team," Lutz said. "After picking my lower lip off the floor, I assured her she could."