Lady'Backs Return to Pool in the Sunshine State

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas swimming and diving team returns to competition Friday, Jan. 20, at 3:00 p.m. in Gainesville, Fla., against Southeastern Conference foes Florida and Alabama.

Arkansas swimming head coach Anne Goodman James said she is happy with the quality of the practices over the break and is excited about the latest SEC contest.

“We’re coming off some very hard weeks of training,” she said. “I feel like we had one of the best winter training periods that we’ve probably ever had.”

Last season, the Lady Razorbacks fell to Alabama, 74-59. The Crimson Tide leads the all-time series 1-5 while Florida has a 1-0 record versus Arkansas after the 2003-04 meeting.

Goodman James said she expects a challenging meet from Florida and Georgia especially with the absence of freshmen Jesika Heidloff, Macey Webb and redshirt freshman Kellyn Williams, who are not competing due to injury or illness.

“We’re certainly facing some very tough foes, Florida was fourth at last year’s NCAA Championships,” she said. “They’re probably strongest in middle distance freestyle, fly and the IMs. Alabama has a pretty well balanced team. They’re real strong in the diving events and they have a lot of depth throughout the roster.”

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