Lady'Backs Take Ninth at SEC Meet

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., – The University of Arkansas swimming and diving team finished ninth at the Southeastern Conference Championships in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Feb. 18.

Sophomore Brieanne Kushner led the Lady Razorbacks in the platform-diving event with a 10th-place finish. Sophomores Hilarie Wilson and Jamie Hyslop were 14th and 19th, respectively.

Arkansas swimming head coach Anne Goodman James said she was pleased with the team’s performance in the conclusion of the conference meet.

“We had a great finish to the SEC meet,” she said. “After four days of competition, we kept getting better. Our divers were impressive on platform, with both Brieanne and Hilarie scoring points.”

In the final event of the meet, the 400-freestyle relay team of freshman Summer Jackson, junior Mariann Fulop, sophomore Emily Gregory and junior Kristen Thibodeaux combine for a season-best time while finishing ninth.

Goodman James said she astonished with the showing in the final relay especially by the time the Lady’Backs shaved off from the previous season-best.

“Things finished up with an outstanding free relay, dropping our time by four seconds,” she said. “I am proud of the way our team hung in there through the good and not so good and truly stepped up and competed with excellence.”

In the finals of the 200 butterfly, Thibodeaux and freshman Emily Fletcher scored for Arkansas as they finished 17th and 18th.

“This is a great accomplishment for a freshman, and we are excited for her and her future in the SEC. What makes Kristen’s finals appearance so impressive is that the 200 fly is a new event for her,” Goodman James said.

In the 100 freestyle, Summer Jackson paced the team with 24th while Gregory took 36th and sophomore Tifanie Silver recorded 39th. Fulop just missed qualifying for the finals of the 200 back with her 19th-place finish. Senior Angela Kora, 27th, and freshman Dashya Kimmel, 29th, also competed in the event. The Lady’Backs had freshmen Elizabeth Engs and Lonnie Strange take 25th and 30th in the 200 breaststroke.

For more information on Arkansas swimming and diving, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.