Hopkin Sets Pool Record in Loss to No. 7 Georgia
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.- The No. 23 Arkansas swimming and diving opened the 2018-19 season with a hard-fought 129.5-170.5 loss against the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs Saturday afternoon at the HPER Natatorium.
“I was so proud of our entire team today; swimmers to divers, freshman to seniors,” head coach Neil Harper said. “The building was packed with so many fans it made the energy electric.”
The Hogs started the meet off strong, earning first place in the 200 medley relay (1:41.18). The victory was less than three seconds shy of tying the Arkansas team record for the event. Newcomers Kobie Melton, Molly Moore, and Anna Hopkin earned their first victory as Razorbacks, with senior Sydney Angell rounding out the relay team.
Arkansas earned top-three finishes in the next six events, taking first place in two. In the first diving event, defending national champion Brooke Schultz placed first in the 1-meter with a 342.90 while Maha Amer finished second with a 298.80.
Schultz also took first in the 3-meter, just 7.28-points shy of tying the pool record she set last season, and Amer placed third with a score of 313.28.
Angell, Hopkin, and Brooke Schultz each earned two first-place finishes, with Hopkin also finishing third in the 100 fly (54.96). Hopkin’s 50 free (22.29) victory set a new pool record, as well as made the NCAA ‘B’-cut.
Overall, Arkansas earned 14 top-three finishes in the swimming events and four in the diving events.
“Winning the first event set the for our entire team to believe that we could compete with one of the best teams in the country,” Harper said. “Brooke, Sydney, and Anna were all big double-winners and helped keep the momentum rolling. This was a big step forward for Arkansas swimming and diving.”
The Hogs will return to the pool at South Carolina, facing the Gamecocks Saturday, Oct. 20 at 12 p.m.
For more information on Arkansas Swimming and Diving, follow @RazorbackSD on Twitter.
