Arkansas Swimming and Diving Fact Sheet #7
This Week
Arkansas is on the road again for a double-dual meet, Saturday, Jan. 28, with Auburn and Florida State in Auburn, Ala at 11:00 a.m. Auburn leads the all-time series 1-0 after meeting in the 2003-04 season. The Tigers are the defending Southeastern Conference Champions. Saturday’s meeting with the Seminoles first in Lady Razorback history.
Recap
The Lady’Backs fell to Florida, 91-42, and Alabama, 104-34, Jan. 20, in Gainesville, Fla. Sophomore diver Brieanne Kushner and freshman swimmer Summer Jackson claimed victories in the conference meet.
Brie’s Best
Brieanne Kushner continued her winning streak at Florida when she swept the diving events against the Gators. She set a season-best score of 245.60 on the one-meter springboard. Against Kentucky Dec. 3, Kushner won the three-meter springboard with a season-best score of 287.33.
Summer’s Serious
Summer Jackson took first-place honors in the 50 free against Alabama, which is a feat that she has accomplished five times this season.
Add Them Up
Junior Mariann Fulop and freshman Elizabeth Engs also contributed against Florida and Alabama. Fulop recorded two second-place victories in 100 and 200 backstroke versus Alabama while Engs was second in the 200 breaststroke against Florida and Alabama.
Troubled Water
Originally scheduled for Jan. 14, the meet with Tulane was cancelled due to financial impacts of Hurricane Katrina. The Green Wave has suspended many of the athletic programs due to the disaster.
A Near Miss
In the Kentucky meet, Engs took second place in the 200 breaststroke while nearly setting a season-best time.
Welcome Back
After missing the first five meets of the season because of a shoulder injury, sophomore Emily Gregory returned to competition against Kentucky and swam in the sprint freestyle races.
Collaboration
The Lady’Back relays led the squad at the Indiana Invitational. Arkansas set season best times in the 200-free relay, 200-medley relay, 400-free relay and the 800-free relay.
Odds and Ends
Freshman Lonnie Strange had a very productive meet at Indiana when she set five season-best times including a three second improvement in the 100 back.
Three’s Company
The Lady’Backs recorded their best finishes of the Indiana Invitation in the 200-medley relay and 100 freestyle events. Jackson was third in the 100 free and she was a member of the third-place relay team along with Fulop, freshman Jesika Heidloff and junior Kristen Thibodeaux.
Back in Business
In Indiana, Fulop dominated the backstroke events for the Lady’Backs leading the team with a fourth-place finish in the 100 back and a fifth-place in the 200 back.
A Long Mile
In the first 1,650 freestyle event of the season, freshman Macey Webb took seventh with a time of 17:42.54 at the invitational.
Quick Draw
For the third consecutive meet, the Lady’Backs recorded a quick start. The relay team of Fulop, Heidloff, Thibodeaux and Jackson won the 400-medley against Houston.
Fabulous Freshman
Jackson was undefeated in the first three meets of the year. Against Houston, Jackson won the 50 free and 100 fly.
Teamwork
The Lady’Backs ended the Houston meet on a high note after sophomore Tifanie Silver, Webb, Emily Fletcher and Engs won the 400-free relay. Fulop, Heidloff, Thibodeaux and Jackson gave Arkansas a third-place finish in the 200-medley relay in the Rice Invitational.
Follow the Leader
At the Rice Invitational, Heidloff paced the Lady’Back squad with a first-place finish in the 200 breaststroke also took second in the 100 breast.
Fly By
Fletcher was impressive at the Rice Invitational as she scored for the Lady’Backs with a seventh-place finish in the 200 fly.
In an Instant
Bentonville, Ark., native, freshman Dashya Kimmel recorded a lifetime best mark in the 200 back at the Rice Invitational.
Dynamic Duo
Arkansas finished first and second in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke events with quality performances from Heidloff and Engs. Heidloff has won all of the breaststroke events in both the Nebraska and Drury meets.
Fly Away
Thibodeaux earned her first individual victory of the season in the 200 fly against Drury. Fletcher followed with a second-place finish.
In the Zone
In only the second meet of the season, redshirt freshman Madison Palmer and sophomore Brieanne Kushner made NCAA Zone Diving qualifying standards, on the one meter and three meter, respectively, while sweeping the diving events.
Best Times
At Drury, the Lady’Backs recorded 15 season best marks. Senior Angela Kora, freshman Lonnie Strange, Fulop, Fletcher and Kushner improved their season best in two events.
