Diving goes 1-2-3 in Arkansas win

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas diving squad went 1-2-3 on both the one-meter and three-meter springboards to lead the Lady Razorback swimming and diving team to a 130-110 win against Drury University at the Arkansas Natatorium on Saturday. Every Arkansas diver earned career-best scores on the three meter. Junior Brieanne Kushner scored a 329.40 to claim first place and write her name fifth in the Arkansas record book. Palmer finished second with a 316.05 and Williams qualified for the zone meet in March with a score of 298.75. Palmer took top honors on the one meter with a score of 289.32, followed by Kushner with a 262.50 and Williams with a personal best 259.88. “I’m very excited for our divers,” said diving coach Scott Reich. “Their training has been great this week and it showed in their performances.” The Lady’Backs also got it done racing, winning five events. Sophomore Summer Jackson took two wins in the freestyle events. She touched in with a 24.08 in the 50 free and a season-best 52.10 in the 100 free. Junior Emily Gregory was right behind Jackson in the 50 free, placing second with a time of 24.30. Senior Mariann Fulop won the 200 individual medley in 2:05.95 and Gregory finished first in the 100 butterfly with a 56.03. Arkansas won the last event of the meet, the 200 free relay. The team of Gregory, Kristen Thibodeaux, Tifanie Silver and Jackson turned in a season-best time of 1:36.06. “It was an incredible day today,” said head coach Jeff Poppell. “The divers did a fantastic job. I knew it was going to be a dog fight of a meet. Drury has some swimmers that can rival most Division I teams, but we sent our two seniors off with a win.” Sophomore Elizabeth Engs turned in two personal-best times, one in the 200 IM and another in the 100 breast. Senior Kristen Thibodeaux earned the best time of her career placing second in the 500 free. She was .03 seconds off of her individual-best time in the 200 free where she finished second with a time of 1:53.05. The Lady’Backs will travel to Lexington, Ken., for the Southeastern Conference Championships Feb. 2-4 (diving) and Feb. 7-10 (swimming). “We have tremendous momentum going into SECs with this win today,” said Poppell. We are excited and ready to take on the best in the country.” For more information about Arkansas swimming and diving, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.