Katie Kastes wins three and sets school record in 200 fly

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas freshman Katie Kastes won three events and set the school record in the 200 butterfly to lead the Lady Razorback swimming and diving team to a win over North Texas Friday in the Arkansas Natatorium. Kastes’ three wins and junior Madison Palmer’s sweep of the diving events paced the Lady’Backs to a 210-90 victory against North Texas, marking the first time in school history Arkansas scored over 200 points in a meet. The Lady’Backs also fell to Georgia 168-127. Kastes’ time of 2:01.63 in the 200 fly earned her a first-place finish and the top spot in the school record book. The Palm Harbor, Fla., native also won the 100 fly with a time of 56.26 to sweep the butterfly events. She was not done there and also touched in first in the 200 individual medley with a 2:05.90. Kastes beat the previous 200-fly record set by current Lady’Back Emily Gregory (2:02.88) in February 2007. “I’m very proud of the young ladies,” said head coach Jeff Poppell. “They did a fantastic job of competing this afternoon. It’s a much better start than I could have ever dreamed of for the first meet of the season.” In addition to Kastes’ wins, Palmer’s scores of 283.70 on the one meter and 286.85 on the three meter gave her two top finishes, a sweep of the diving events and qualified her for the zone meet in March. Arkansas was also victorious in the 200 freestyle relay. The team of junior Summer Jackson, Gregory, senior Tiffanie Silver and Kastes took first with a time of 1:37.63. The Lady’Backs placed fourth in the 400 medley relay before finishing 2-3-4 in the 1,000 free. Freshman Ashley Largo (10:01.65), junior Stephanie Carr (10:02.96) and freshman Jamie Marks (10:09.19) swam the event. Arkansas bettered its finish in the 200 IM placing 1-2-3. Kastes, Marks (2:07.89), and junior Elizabeth Engs (2:08.89) were the top three finishers. Jackson touched in second, posting a 1:05.46 in the 100 breaststroke while Engs turned in a career-best time of 1:06.69. Junior Emily Fletcher also had a personal-best time of 2:08.93 in the 200 fly. Marks earned a second-place finish in the 200 breast with a 2:22.28. “To be able to have that type of success the very first competition of the season is just tremendous,” said Poppell. “Those are types of performances we would expect either midway through the season or maybe at the end. The fact that we’re starting off that well is great.” The Lady’Backs next meet is Oct. 27 in Denver, Colo., where Arkansas faces Denver and Utah in a double-dual meet. For more information about Arkansas swimming and diving, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.