Swimming and Diving Fact Sheet #5

This WeekArkansas swimming and diving travels to Columbus, Ohio to compete in the Ohio State Invitational. Teams participating include Arkansas, Bowling Green, Denver, Iowa, Ohio State, South Carolina, and Utah. Three additional teams bring diving sqauds only including Alabama, Arizona State and Miama (Fla.).
RecapThe Lady Razorbacks split their last double-dual meet at Georgia. Arkansas lost against the Bulldogs, 114-178 and earned its first victory of the season against Emory, 161-138. The Lady’Backs won five events and turned in five career-best times.
Fulop’s Double DipSenior Mariann Fulop took top honors in the 100 backstroke and the 200 individual medley with times of 57.26 and 2:08.10, respectively. Her time in the 100 back was a personal best and she beat her nearest opponent by almost five seconds in the 200 IM.
Gregory’s GainsJunior Emily Gregory, who holds the school record in both the 100 and 200 butterfly events, wrote her name in the Arkansas record books again this week, with her time in the 100 fly. Gregory won the event in 55.70, putting her fourth on the all-time list.
Relays RollArkansas started the meet turning in a season-best time in the 400 medley relay. The team of Fulop, sophomore Summer Jackson, Gregory and senior Kristen Thibodeaux touched in a time of 3:54.06. The Lady’Backs finished the meet by winning the 400 free relay. The squad of Gregory, Thibodeaux, junior Tifanie Silver and Jackson placed first in 3:32.68.
Close CallsSeveral Lady’Backs touched second including Gregory in the 200 fly with a time of 2:05.16 and sophomore Elizabeth Engs in the 200 breaststroke in 2:26.95. Fulop finished second and earned another personal-best time of 2:03.46 in the 200 back.
One-Two PunchOn the boards, Arkansas finished 1-2 on the one-meter springboard. Sophomore Madison Palmer took the top spot scoring 252.70 and junior Brieanne Kushner placed second with 247.10. This was Palmer’s first win of the season.
Personal Best PerformancesThe Lady’Backs turned in five personal records at Georgia. Fulop set two career-best times, one in the 100 back (57.26) and another in the 200 back (2:03.46). In the 1,000 freestyle sophomore Macey Webb posted a career-best 10:31.03, improving her time by almost five seconds. Freshman Allison Chinn continued to improve with a personal record in the 200 fly while junior Tifanie Silver touched in with a career-best time in the 200 back.
Top TimesAfter four meets, the Lady Razorbacks have turned in 27 individual-best times.
More on FulopMariann Fulop won eight straight races before finishing second against Georgia in the 200 back. She set a personal-best time in the race and lost to her opponent by just .42 seconds. This season Fulop holds nine victories — three in the 200 back, three in the 100 back, two in the 200 IM and one in the 400 IM.
Top FinishersSeveral Lady’Backs have two or more individual wins under their belts this year. Gregory enjoys five victories, Thibodeaux and Jackson have three each and Kushner lays claim to two.
The 2005 Ohio State InvitationalThe University of Minnesota won the 2005 invitational with 1,254.50 points. Penn State finished second while Ohio State placed third.
The Upcoming MonthArkansas spends Dec. 16-22 in Florida for its winter training trip. The swimming team will be in Sarasota, Fla., while the diving squad will train in Miami, Fla.