Red-White meet kicks off 2007-08 season

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas swimming and diving team kicked off the 2007-08 season with the Red-White meet Saturday in the Arkansas Natatorium. The Lady Razorbacks spilt into two teams and the red team was victorious 121-82. The red team took first-place finishes in nine of the eleven events. Junior Summer Jackson, freshman Katie Kastes and junior Madison Palmer paced the red team with two wins apiece. Sophomore Lynette Ng and freshman Ashley Largo touched in first in two events for the white team. “The ladies did a fantastic job standing up and competing against their teammates today,” said head coach Jeff Poppell. “We’ve put in a very solid week of training this week. I know the girls are pretty broken down; however, they did a great job competing as a supplement to our training.” Jackson’s wins came in the 100 free and the 100 breast. Katie Kastes touched in first in the 200 free and the 100 fly, while Palmer swept the one and three meter diving events. The meet began with the 200 medley relay where the red team of senior Tifanie Silver, Jackson, Katie Kastes and freshman Erica Totten defeated the white team of Ng, freshman Brittany Kimmitt, senior Emily Gregory and freshman Kylie Kastes. Silver and Totten earned wins for red in the 50 free and the 200 IM, respectively. “We were able to come away from the meet having a better grasp on the strengths of our newcomers and an idea of where we’ll use them in our future meets,” said Poppell. “We were very pleased with today’s meet.” The Lady’Backs officially open the regular season with a home meet against perennial powerhouse Georgia and North Texas at the Arkansas Natatorium Friday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. Admission is free to the public. For more information about Arkansas swimming and diving, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.