Arkansas Falls At No. 3 Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. — To start the 2017 portion of the schedule, the Arkansas women’s swimming and diving team (1-3, 0-3 SEC) fell to the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0 SEC) on Thursday afternoon 180.5-113.5 at Gabrielsen Natatorium.
In the 200 butterfly, junior Jessie Garrison recorded the fourth fastest time (2:01.55) by an Arkansas swimmer this season, finishing second in the event. Mary Margaret Soderberg clocked a lifetime best in the 200 freestyle, finishing third with a time of 1:51.68.
Madison Strathman came out with two top-three finishes in the breaststroke events, touching second in the 100 breast (1:03.72) and placing third in the 200 breast (2:16.68).
The quartet of Caitlin Tootill, Erin Kelly, Natalie Burnett and Annah Carney won the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:31.97, the second quickest time by Arkansas this year. Kiera Michailoff-Russell, Sarah Chambliss, Chelsea Tatlow and Aiden Lister came in second in the event, touching in the fourth fastest time (3:33.13) by Arkansas this season.
In the 200 medley relay, Natalie Burnett, Madison Strathman, Olivia Weekley and Sarah Chambliss recorded a second place finish with a time of 1:43.30, the third fastest time this season by Arkansas.
Freshman Ayumi Macias swam the fourth fastest time (10:08.97) by an Arkansas swimmer this year in the 1000 freestyle with a fifth place finish.
Five other Arkansas swimmers recorded top-three individual finishes. Natalie Burnett touched second in the 50 freestyle (23.96), while Aiden Lister (500 freestyle – 4:57.16), Sarah Easterling (200 IM – 2:08.31), Erin Kelly (100 freestyle – 52.61) and Chelsea Tatlow (100 backstroke – 57.29) all recorded third place finishes.
With both teams’ divers being in Knoxville, Tennessee for the Tennessee Diving Invite, the scores from the invite counted towards the dual meet score. In the one-meter and three-meter dives, the Razorbacks swept the top three positions with Nicole Gillis claiming first, Molly Harvie taking second and Marissa Green placing third in both events.
WHAT COACH HARPER HAD TO SAY
“I thought the ladies competed well after a very challenging week of training,” head coach Neil Harper said. “Racing the defending National Champions in their own pool is great experience and we continue to improve as the season goes on. We will not focus on the meet with the University of Illinois on Saturday.”
UP NEXT
Arkansas will get back in the pool on Saturday morning as the Razorbacks travel to Champaign, Illinois, to face the Illinois Fighting Illini at 10 a.m. at the ARC pool.
For more information on Arkansas Swimming and Diving, follow @RazorbackSD on Twitter.
