Siow earns All-SEC honors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas senior Yi-Ting Siow, who won her second straight 200-yard breaststroke title at the Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Championships last weekend, has been named first team All-SEC, the league office announced on Tuesday. Siow became the first Razorback swimmer to win back-to-back SEC titles with her first-place finish, touching in at 2 minutes, 9.23 seconds. The Malaysian native became the fourth SEC swimmer to win back-to-back titles in the 200y breaststroke since 1981.“It feels great win two SEC titles in a row but I am still a little disappointed because my goal was actually break the SEC record,” Siow said. “But it’s OK because I will just have to train harder and try to break the Arkansas school record at NCAAs. I am really happy that I made the choice to come to the states and I really thankful to my parents. Without my parents and my coaches I would not be where I am right now. My goal now will be to make my last NCAAs my best one and train between now and then to make that happen.”Siow was the only Arkansas swimmer to post an automatic qualifying time for the NCAA Championships. She swam that mark in the 400y individual medley and had previously qualified in the 200y breaststroke. She won her first medal of the 2010 SEC Championships in the 400y IM, with her third place finish.“Yi-Ting was phenomenal all weekend long and winning consecutive SEC championships, I think just solidifies her place in the history of Arkansas swimming and diving,” Arkansas coach Jeff Poppell said. “She is easily the most decorated athlete we have had in our program and what she has done is going to be hard to top in the years to come.” This season, Siow has been one of the top swimmers in the nation. She ranks among the top-10 in three different events, including third in the 200y breaststroke (2:09.01), eighth in the 400y IM (4:07.29) and ninth in the 200y IM (1:56.59). The Razorbacks return to competition March 4-6 at the Austin Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, followed by the NCAA Championships March 17-20 in West Lafayette, Ind.