Swimming and Diving Falls to No. 19 Arkansas 165-135
Jan. 22, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –
Kansas (8-3) swimming and diving fell at No. 19 Arkansas, 165-135, Thursday evening at Arkansas Natatorium. Senior Maria Mayrovich led the University of Kansas with four first place finishes, including three in individual events. Sophomore diver Erin Mertz also had a stellar competition taking first place on the One and Three meter boards.
KU split the 16 events, 8-8, with the No. 19 Razorbacks, but Arkansas claimed more points from runner-up positions. It was the Jayhawks’ first dual defeat since a November loss at No. 23 Missouri.
In the third event, Mayrovich earned Kansas its first victory by touching the wall in a winning time of 1:48.88, which was 1.93 seconds faster than the second-place finisher. Mayrovich would also roll to victories in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events, finishing in times of 23.28 and 50.08, respectively.
Sophomore Iuliia Kuzhil was another Jayhawk standout with three first place finishes. Kuzhil won the 100 and 200 yard backstroke events in impressive fashion. She touched the wall in the 100 yard backstroke in a time of 56.25 and in a time of 2:03.15 for the 200 yard backstroke.
Kansas’ diving team continued to show that it is one of the best in the country with two victories. Mertz placed first on the 1 meter board with a score of 279.00. Meghan Proehl was second with 270.38 points and Hanna McMacken placed fourth with 251.25 points. Mertz narrowly won the 3 meter competition with a score of 299.33, just over three points more than Arkansas’ Madison Palmer.
KU closed the dual with a 2.5 second victory in the 800 yard freestyle relay. A team comprised of Danielle Herrmann, Kuzhil, Anne Liggett and Mayrovich finished in a time of 7:26.98.
Leading Arkansas was junior Yi-Ting Siow and senior Stephanie Carr. Siow matched Mayrovich with four overall first-place finishes and three individual event victories. Carr earned two victories in individual events.
Please click on the link above for complete results.
The Jayhawks will host South Dakota and Northern Iowa for a double dual at Robinson Natatorium on Saturday at 3 p.m.
