Arkansas Swimming and Diving Meet Notes- Week 2

November 7, 2014

Up nextThe University of Arkansas swimming and diving team continues the 2009-10 season with its first home meet against defending Southeastern Conference Champion Florida and the University of Kasnas on Saturday at Arkansas Natatorium beginning at 2 p.m.

Last time outArkansas senior Yi-Ting Siow recorded the nation’s fastest times this season in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200y individual medley to win both events and lead the Razorbacks to season-opening victories over the University of Kentucky and the University of the Cumberlands on Oct. 17. Eight event wins carried the Hogs to a 166-132 victory over Kentucky and a 254-40 rout of the Cumberlands.

In Poppell’s Words… (On the Kentucky/Cumberlands meet)"This was a fantastic way to start our season, with wins against SEC rival Kentucky and the University of the Cumberlands. We knew we were going to have a hard-fought battle with Kentucky as they were coming off a convincing win over South Carolina last weekend.

"The meet for us really represented two different halves. The second half of the meet for us was much better than the first half. We started out a little stale, but as the meet went on, we got better and better."

Siow Turns in Nation’s Fastest TimesYi-Ting Siow recorded the nation’s fastest times this season in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200y individual medley to win both events. The senior touched in at 1 minute, 1.73 seconds to finish first in the 100y breaststroke, 2.85 seconds ahead of second-place teammate Leah Pierce. Siow turned in a time of 2:00.06 in the 200y IM, running away from the rest of the field by 5.83 seconds.

Returning All-Americas Stay StrongReturning All-Americans Jamie Marks and Pierce each earned a first-place finish. Marks paced the 200y butterfly in 2:02.06, and Pierce won the 200y breaststroke in 2:17.28.

Smith Earns First Collegiate WinPoppel said freshman Haley Smith provided a turning point in the meet with her victory in the 200y backstroke. Smith finished with a time of 2:02.29.

Whitbeck, Lunkenheimer Surprise in 100 FlySophomore Katie Whitbeck edged sophomore teammate Lisa Lunkenheimer to win the 100y butterfly in 56.21 seconds. Both held off Kentucky’s Megan Pulskamp, an NCAA All-American in the event last year, in what Poppell called a "huge upset and a real momentum swing for our team."