Pool Records Fall on Opening Day of Swimming Double Dual
Complete Results – Day One (10 Events)
Haley Molden won the 200-yard freestyle.
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Four pool records were wiped off the board during the Friday session of Kansas swimming and diving’s double dual with Denver and Missouri State at Robinson Natatorium. At the conclusion of session one, Kansas leads Missouri State 143-42 while trailing Denver 108-77.
To kick off the meet, Kansas A and B relays placed second and third with times of 1:44.98 and 1:47.57, respectively, in the 200-yard medley relay behind the first place Denver A relay, but the real quick start came on the men’s side. The first of three pool records was taken down by the Missouri State relay team of Paul Le, Issac Springer, Will Brand and Uvis Kalnins with a time of 1:32.30. Le later claimed an individual pool record in the 100-yard backstroke and Kalnins posted the fastest 200-yard IM time in Robinson Natatorium.
Sophomore Lindsay Manning chalked up points for the Jayhawks swimming the 1000-yard freestyle in a time of 10:24.14, placing third overall behind Maddie Myers and Tyra Rooney, both from the University of Denver. The distance freestyle event was followed by mid-distance 200-yard freestyle, where Haley Molden swam an impressive time of 1:51.04, placing her first overall. Molden’s time ranks her among the top-50 in the nation for the 200-yard freestyle event so far this season.
“Molden’s 200 free, that was really good,” Kansas head coach Clark Campbell said. “We’ve dug ourselves into a hole, we’re down 31 points going into tomorrow we have to come back and be ready to go if we want to bring it back tomorrow.”
The first women’s pool record was broken by Sam Corea of the University of Denver in the 100-yard backstroke. Corea went a time of 54.13, breaking Iuliia Kuzhil of Kansas’ record from 2010. Following Corea, KU’s Kuchkarova went a time of 57.41, placing her third overall.
In the diving well, Graylyn Jones, Nadia Khechfe and Sydney Power placed second, third and fourth, respectively. The trio, along with sophomore Amanda Maser, is a young team and diving coach Brian Pritt is confident that they will improve throughout the season.
“I think that we just need to start being more consistent,” Pritt said. “Not just diving, but a consistent attitude after every dive. If you miss a dive a little bit, it carries over onto your next dives. We just have to stay positive and dive like we dive in practice. I know my girls are better than that, there’s no doubt about it, they just need to learn how to compete.”
A sister showdown in heat two of the women’s 100-yard breaststroke featured Lydia and Gretchen Pocisk. Gretchen and Lydia placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Hannah Driscoll placed second overall with a time of 1:06.81. The three brought in a total of seven points for the Jayhawks.
Chelsie Miller, Kansas’ first individual Big 12 champion, returned to Robinson for her first home meet of the season in the 200-yard butterfly. The junior went a time of 2:02.85, placing her first overall, the first of three wins in the meet for Miller. Not far behind was senior Deanna Marks, with a time of 2:07.53 in fifth place.
In the women’s 50-yard freestyle Pia Pavlic and Driscoll placed fourth and fifth with times of 24.51 and 24.67, respectively. Leah Pfitzer won her heat in time of 24.83, placing her seventh overall.
Miller and Johanna Roas of Denver battled it out in the butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke portions of the 200-yard individual medley. Miller pulled ahead in the final 50 yards of the freestyle to beat Roas and win the event in a time of 2:06.15. Madison Straight placed third in her heat with a time of 2:08.93, placing her fourth overall. Marks and Lydia Pocisk placed fifth and sixth respectively, with times of 2:10.46 and 2:11.65.
Entering the final event for the night, Kansas and Denver looked to get ahead in the overall scores with the 800-yard freestyle relay. Molden and Merecka swam neck and neck with Myers and Mullenix of Denver, but Denver quickened the pace and pulled ahead, finishing with a final time of 7:33.16, KU in 7:35.41.
“Individually our goal was to be within two seconds of their best 100 time,” Campbell said. “We talked about how we want to get into good habits, making sure we cool down, talk to the coaches, talk to themselves and support each other. That part is good. What we have to do right now is take care of ourselves, eat a good dinner, go to bed early, and come in with a good attitude and ready to go tomorrow.”
At the end of Friday, Denver’s women lead Missouri State 145.50-39.50 and the Denver men lead Missouri State 105.50-80.50. The meet will continue Saturday, October 25 beginning at noon in Robinson Natatorium. Admission to the event is free.
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