Hogs set numerous personal bests at Grand Prix

See complete Day 3 results.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Once again, the swimmers of the No.22 University of Arkansas swimming and diving team (6-1, 2-1) topped their own best efforts, setting seven regular season best times on Sunday in the final day of competition at the Minnesota U.S. Grand Prix, beginning with Kylie Kastes in the prelims of the 100 free where she touched in 48th in 54.98.70. Summer Jackson set a personal best in the final of the 100 free; Jackson won the “B” heat final in a personal best time of 50.92. In the 1,650 free final, Stephanie Carr broke her regular season best, finishing fifth in a time of 16.39.45 and Jamie Marks also posted a regular season best in the event with her time of 16.44.25, placing sixth. Freshman Alison Templin had her best effort in the race, with a ninth place finish in 16:53.97. In the “B” heat final of the 200 fly, Lisa Lunkenheimer set a career time of 2:03.70, and Erica Totten set a regular season best in the “C” heat, coming in second in 53.10.

“Tonight was highlighted by fantastic efforts in the 1,650 free, which included Carr, Marks, and Templin all recording their in-season personal bests,” head Arkansas coach Jeff Poppell said. “In addition, Summer Jackson recorded her career best in the 100 free, just missing another school record, and Erica and Lisa were very strong in the 200 fly.”

Also in the final of the 200 fly, Katie Kastes took third with her time of 2:01.97, the third best time in Razorback history; Marks was seventh in 2:05.06. Erin Neumann was sixth in the “B” heat, touching in at 2:08.10, and Kylie Kastes was eighth at 2:09.51. Emily Fletcher, competing in the “C” heat, had a final time of 2:15.92, placing eighth.

“This was a fantastic in-season competition for us,” Poppell said. “The girls had a phenomenal meet this weekend against some of the best in the country. The format of this meet will prepare us well for the SEC Championships in February.”

Three Razorbacks swam in the finals of the 100 free with Jackson; Katie Whitbeck came in second, in 51.90, and Megan Haskins placed third in her time of 53.08. Lynette Ng came in second in the “C” heat final with a time of 53.10.

Sarah Howard was 15th in the 1,650 free final in 17:26.70; Shara Sutphen finished in 17:35.13, placing 18th, and Elizabeth Engs was 19th overall with a time of 17:36.97.

In the finals of the 200 back, freshman Katie Davis took the seventh spot in 2:05.61 and was followed closely by Jillienne Schilling who was eighth in 2:06.73. Jessie Clark swam in the “B” final and finished in 2:09.12, for fourth place in the heat.

In the prelims on Sunday morning, the Razorbacks kicked off the day qualifying three of four swimmers for the 200 back finals. Davis touched in first for Arkansas, coming in seventh in a time of 2:06.64 with Schilling just behind in eighth with 2:06.69. Clark swam a 2:08.66 and placed 12th, and Ng placed 29th in her time of 2:12.85.

In the 100 free prelims, Whitbeck came in 13th place at 52.87, Haskins followed in 17th with a time of 53.36, and Jackson came in 18th at 53.43. Other Razorbacks in the race included Ng in 27th at 53.87, Lunkenheimer at 54.35 in 35th place, Totten finished in 54.46 for the 37th spot, Schilling was 40th at a time of 54.60 and Kylie Kastes rounded out the event prelims for Arkansas.

Katie Kastes finished second in the prelims of the 200 fly with her time of 2:02.89 and Marks was fourth, touching in at 2:04.60. Totten placed eighth in a time of 2:05.66, Lunkenheimer finished in 2:06.53 in 10th place, Whitbeck had a time of 2:08.67 in 13th place, Neumann was behind her in 14th at a time of 2:08.82, and Kylie Kastes came in 19th place in her time of 2:10.11. Templin swam a 2:13.88, placing her 26th, and Fletcher came in 34th in 2:16.57.

The final prelim event of Sunday morning was the 1,650 free where Howard finished in sixth place in 17:26.70 and Engs was ninth in a time of 17:36.97.

After their successful weekend meet in which they broke four school records, the Razorbacks will be back in the pool the weekend of Dec.5-7 in Columbia, Mo. for the Mizzou Invite. For updated results and for complete coverage of the Arkansas Razorbacks swimming and diving team, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.