Daniels snaps 100 breast record; earns NCAA 'A' cut

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas –  University of Arkansas sophomore Nikki Daniels not only shattered her own school record with a time of 59.26 in the 100 breast, but also recorded an NCAA ‘A’ cut to highlight the morning session at the 2013 Southeastern Conference Championship. Daniels will represent the Razorbacks in the finals beginning at 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN3.com.

Arkansas enters the evening finals with seven chances to score, with Daniels, Liz Braun, Chelsea Franklin, Shana Lim, Anna Mayfield, Julia Banach and Kesha Naylor.

Daniels was one of the fastest off the blocks (.74), but sat back in fourth-place at the half-way point in heat one. Daniels clocked the second-fasted 25 yards on the third leg of the race, making her move. She closed out strong, taking second-place in the final heat to the American record-holder from Texas A&M Breeja Larson. Daniels and Larson also met in the pool at the Houston Invite as the duo went one-two with Larson nabbing the American record and Daniels taking down Leah Pierce’s school record.

Daniels’ ‘A’ cut is the first individual ‘A’ cut for the Razorbacks since Yi-Ting Siow earned one in 2010 in the 400 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke. This is the second ‘A’ cut by the Razorbacks this season, as the 200 medley team of Lim, Susanna White, Daniels and Nina Drolc clocked a 1:37.79 for an ‘A’ cut.

Banach nabbed a personal-best time of 1:01.69 to place 18th in the prelims, slotting her in the ‘C’ finals tonight.

Arkansas picked up two evening finals participants in the 100 backstroke as Lim and Mayfield nabbed slots in the ‘C’ finals, placing 19th and 22nd respectively.

Braun shined in the 200 fly with a personal-best swim of 1:59.71 to put herself in the top-16. Franklin showcased her versatility with a standout performance in the 200 fly, putting herself in scoring position with a time of 2:00.77 and a 19th-place finish.

Naylor led the Razorbacks in the final event of the morning preliminaries with a seventh-place finish on the platform, qualifying for the evening finals. Naylor becomes one of just two divers to final in all three events as Tennessee’s Victoria Lamp also finaled on both spring boards and the platform. Naylor’s performance was highlighted with an inward three and a half tuck awarded her a score of 67.20.

The Razorbacks will return to the pool tonight at 6 p.m. Arkansas will compete in the 200 fly, 100 back,  100 breast and platform finals.

Fans looking to follow the swimming and diving team as they compete in the SEC Championships can do so by tuning in to the live blog and live video stream on ArkansasRazorbacks.com and following the Razorbacks on Twitter (@RazorbackSwim).

For more information regarding Razorback swimming & diving or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

PRELIMINARIES:
200 FLY
13th – Liz Braun –  1:59.72 %
19th – Chelsea Franklin – 2:00.77 %
27th – Rachel Kessler – 2:02.75
34th – Rebekah Harvey – 2:04.92

100 Backstroke
19th – Shana Lim – 54.20 &
22nd – Anna Mayfield – 53.22 &
44th – Aubrey Golbek – 56.68

100 Breast
3rd –  Nikki Daniels – 59.26 ^ & ! *
18th – Julia Banach – 1:01.69 & %
31st–  Allison Boyle – 1:04.71  &

Platform
7th–  Kesha Naylor – 265.2  *
26th –  Shelby Bartlett – 191.3 &
27th–  Hannah Bortnick – 178.1  &

*  Indicates top-8 finish
& Indicates personal best
% Indicates NCAA ‘B’ Cut time
^ Indicates NCAA ‘A’ Cut time
! Indicates school record


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