Kastes repeats as All-American

Jump to Day 2 results.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – University of Arkansas swimmer Katie Kastes earned All-America honors in the 400 individual medley at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday, placing 13th in the event with an Arkansas record time of 4:07.92. A sophomore, Kastes garnered All-America nods in the 200 fly and 500 free at last season’s championship meet.“We’re very excited about Katie’s All-America status for the second straight year,” head Razorback coach Jeff Poppell said. “Katie swam very well today and we’re very proud of all her accomplishments through just her sophomore season with the team.”

Junior Leah Pierce also set a school record on Friday in the 100 breast preliminary event. Pierce finished the race in 20th place with a school and personal-best time of 1:00.77. Teammate Yi-Ting Siow, the previous record-holder, was close behind, placing 25th with a time of 1:01.02.

Jamie Marks joined Kastes in the prelims of the 400 IM, touching in with a time of 4:14.76, in 31st place.

“We had a fantastic day once again in prelims,” Poppell said. “All the girls performed well, especially Leah and Katie who set school records and shaved at least three seconds off their personal best times in their respective events.”

Saturday is the final day of the NCAA Championships and all the Razorback swimmers will be back in action. Marks and Stephanie Carr will be competing in the 1,650 free as Kastes tries to gain All-America status in the 200 fly for the second consecutive season. Pierce and Siow will close out their season in the 200 breast event.

“We’re definitely looking forward to tomorrow,” Poppell said. “The event lineup for tomorrow includes our best events and we expect to have our best day yet to close out the meet.”

The preliminary races are set to begin at 11 a.m. at the Texas A&M Student Rec Center Natatorium with finals to follow at 7 p.m.

For complete coverage of Arkansas swimming and diving, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.