Jayhawks Top Huskers, 154.5-145.5, in Lincoln

Jan. 13, 2007

LINCOLN, Neb. – The <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Kansas swimming and diving team defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Devaney Natatorium in a close competition, 154.5-145.5, Saturday. The victory on the road brings the Jayhawks to 5-1 in dual meet action and 1-1 in the Big 12 Conference.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Less than 36 hours after both the swimmers and divers returned from their winter training trips on Jan. 11, Kansas set off for Lincoln to reel in its second consecutive dual meet win against Nebraska, the last victory coming during the 2005-06 season on Jan. 14, 2006.

Swimming Action

Senior co-captain Jenny Short led the way for the Jayhawks with first-place victories in both backstroke events, finishing with a time of 57.68 in the 100-yard backstroke and 2:06.12 in the 200-yard event. Short was also a member of the winning 200-yard medley relay (1:47.56) and swam the third leg of the first-place 400-yard freestyle relay (3:30.55). Kansas’ victory in the final 400-freestyle relay event sealed the meet victory for the Jayhawks.

Sophomore Danielle Herrmann joined Short on the winning 200-yard medley relay while capturing victories in both the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.32) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:23.88). Herrmann finished the afternoon off with a second-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley (2:06.87), only five-tenths of a second behind Nebraska’s Lauren Bailey, who clocked in at 2:06.82 for the win.

Freshman Maria Mayrovich had solid performances in the freestyle events, swimming to a 23.96 in the 50-yard freestyle, good for a first-place victory, while also recording a win in the 100-yard free (51.85) and a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.94). Nebraska’s Kate Wheeler out-touched Mayrovich by only two-tenths of a second, finishing with a time of 1:51.74.

“I tell the team every year that this is the toughest challenge,” head coach Clark Campbell said, “to come home from the training trip after a number of days of tough training, only to board the bus to Nebraska less than 36 hours later. Our staff is very proud of how well the team competed with that challenge. Today we took a step forward in toughness. To come home with a Big 12 victory on the road after the training trip is a reason to be proud.”

Diving Action

In diving action, Senior Shelby Noonan sealed a second-place victory with 245.85 points on the one-meter board, while junior Jenny Roberts finished close behind in the one-meter competition with a third-place finish (242.63 points). Freshman Meghan Proehl rounded out the Jayhawks top-five with a fifth-place finish (219.98 points).

In the three-meter competition, Noonan brought home the win with 282.98 points, while Roberts finished in third (267.23). Sophomore Hannah McMacken wrapped up the Jayhawk diving campaign with a fifth-place victory on the three-meter board (191.26).

“Eric (Elliott) had the divers ready to compete at a challenging level after their winter training trip,” Campbell said. “The team has been training hard and we are set up for a great championship season.”

The Jayhawks will next be in action on Jan. 27 for their third Conference match-up against the Iowa State Cyclones. The two-day dual meet will be the second and final home meet of the season for Kansas.

-KU-

Kansas-Nebraska Results in PDF Format
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