Swimming and Diving Fact Sheet #6

This WeekArkansas swimming and diving hosts Denver and Missouri State in a double-dual meet Saturday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. All home meets are held at Arkansas Natatorium and admission is free to the public.
Winter Training TripThe Lady Razorback swimming squad traveled to Sarasota, Fla., for winter training. They competed against the University of DePauw in the 200 freestyle relay and the 200 medley relay, taking home top honors in the 200 medley relay.
RecapThe Lady Razorbacks took sixth place in their last meet at the Ohio State Invitational. The Lady Razorbacks finished with 373.5 points just one point behind Denver (374.5). South Carolina took the top spot with 793 points followed by Ohio State with 779, Utah with 679 and Iowa with 393.
Personal-Best TimesArkansas turned in 21 personal-best times through the course of the three-day invitational. The Lady’Backs also posted 42 season-best times. Senior Mariann Fulop, junior Tifanie Silver, and freshman Allison Chinn set four personal records each over the weekend.
Relays RollLady’Back relays earned numerous points at the invitational. On day one, Arkansas’ top finish came in the 200 freestyle relay. The team of sophomore Summer Jackson, junior Emily Gregory, senior Kristen Thibodeaux, and Silver placed fourth with a season-best time of 1:36.31. Arkansas earned another chunk of its points in the 400 medley relay with the squad of Fulop, junior Katie McGraw, Gregory, and Jackson, which finished sixth in a season-best time of 3:53.59. In the finals of the 200 medley relay, Arkansas took third place with a season best 1:45.20 from team members Fulop, Jackson, Gregory and Thibodeaux. Lady’Backs Fulop, Jackson, Gregory and Thibodeaux placed fourth and turned in a season best 3:30.12 in the 400 free relay.
Fulop’s FinishesOn day one, senior Mariann Fulop touched in sixth in the 200 individual medley in 2:05.58, just .05 seconds off of her career best. Day two, Fulop finished third in the 400 IM, posting a personal-best time of 4:27.57. Fulop also placed fifth that day in the 100 back with a 57.59. Fulop turned in Arkansas’ top finish of the day in the 200 backstroke on day three. She placed third with a 2:01.51, two seconds better than her career-best time.
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 prelims of the event in 55.67, putting her fourth on the all-time list. She now holds the first, third, fourth and fifth spots in the 100 fly. Gregory took third in the finals of the 100 fly.
In the Top FiveJackson finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke with a personal best 1:04.97 and fifth in the 100 fly with a career-best 56.59.
Top TimesAfter five meets, the Lady Razorbacks turned in 48 individual-best times.
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.
About Missouri StateThe Bears return 20 letterwinners. They are led by head coach Jack Steck who holds a career record of 205-77-1 at Missouri State. In the 2005-06 season the Bears finished 10-6 in dual meets and first at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship.
Missouri State RecapMissouri State dropped all three matches in a triple dual in Boca Raton, Fla., Jan. 6. The Bears lost to Clemson, 47-138, Florida Atlantic, 61-127, and Rice 51-134.
Arkansas versus the BearsArkansas leads the all-time series 5-0.
About DenverThe Pioneers return 15 letterwinners and are led by first-year head coach, Brian Schrader.
Denver RecapDU went 2-1 in a quad meet at Florida Atlantic University Dec. 16. College of Charleston, Cincinnati, Florida Atlantic and Denver competed. Junior Kelsey Totura won the lone event for DU’s women’s team as she captured the 200-yard backstroke.
Arkansas versus the PioneersThis is the first meeting between Arkansas and Denver.
Upcoming MeetArkansas hosts Drury in its final regular-season meet Saturday, Jan. 20 at noon.