Kuzhil and Payne Break School Records to Highlight Friday's Preliminaries
Feb. 27, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. –
Kansas swimming and diving will have three participants in the finals later Friday evening at the Big 12 Championships in Columbia, Mo. Leading the Jayhawks is sophomore backstroker, Iuliia Kuzhil, who broke her own school-record in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 54.03. Also qualifying for the finals were senior Maria Mayrovich and freshman Abigail Anderson.
Freshman Stephanie Payne and sophomore Joy Bunting led the Jayhawks in Friday’s opening preliminary event, the 400 yard I.M. Payne finished in ninth place with a time of 4:17.79, while Bunting placed 11th in a time of 4:19.16. Payne’s time smashed the previous school-record of 4:19.70, which was set in 1995 by Kristin Nilsen.
Freshman Anderson continued her coming-out party at the Big 12 Championships in the 100 yard butterfly, placing fourth with a time of 54.31. That time was over 2.6 seconds faster than her previous-best. Sophomore Brittany Potter was KU’s second-best finisher in the 100 yard butterfly, earning an 18th-place finish in a time of 56.01.
Mayrovich continued her strong swimming with a seventh-place finish in the 200 yard freestyle, touching the wall in a time of 1:47.75. Kansas will be well represented in the ‘B’ flight with three Jayhawks qualifying, including Anne Liggett, Erin Goetz and Emily Lanteigne.
Senior Danielle Herrmann and freshman Stephanie Payne placed ninth and 10th, respectively, in the 100 yard breaststroke. Herrmann touched the wall in a time of 1:03.89, while Payne had a career-best time of 1:04 flat.
Perhaps KU’s best chance at an individual champion is Kuzhil in the 100 yard backstroke. She broke her one-day old record with a time of 54.03 and earning a third-place finish. Kuzhil is less than half-second behind the top qualifier. Joining Kuzhil in the finals will be Anderson, who finished in 8th place in a time of 54.98.
Below are Kansas’ results from Friday morning’s preliminary events. After Thursday’s results, Kansas sits in fourth place with 173 points. For live results, please visit mutigers.com and check out video replays at big12sports.com.
Please check back with kuathletics.com for a report following each session at the Big 12 Championships. Event finals will begin tonight at 6 p.m.
Kansas’ Friday Preliminary Results
400 Yard I.M.
9. Stephanie Payne – 4:17.79$$
11. Joy Bunting – 4:19.16
15. Alyssa Potter – 4:24.58
17. Rhynn Malloy – 4:27.53
100 Yard Butterfly
4. Abigail Anderson – 54.31*
18. Brittany Potter – 56.01
22. Jessica Brozek – 56.85
24. Kath Liggett – 57.12
25. Juliann Vignatelli – 57.48
28. Ashley Leidigh – 58.71
31. Kendall Matous – 59.62
200 Yard Freestyle
7. Maria Mayrovich – 1:47.75*
13. Anne Liggett – 1:49.52
14. Erin Goetz – 1:49.65
15. Emily Lanteigne -1:49.78
18. Shannon Garlie – 1:50.81
28. Mel Heyrman – 1:53.15
34. Amanda Maez – 1:56.40
35. Sarah Hettenbach – 1:56.47
36. Lisa Dlugopolski – 1:58.86
100 Yard Breaststroke
9. Danielle Herrmann – 1:03.89
10. Stephanie Payne – 1:04.00
18. Sarah Beth Edwards – 1:05.52
20. Rhynn Malloy – 1:05.99
100 Yard Backstroke
3. Iuliia Kuzhil – 54.03$$
8. Abigail Anderson – 54.98
14. Carrah Haley -56.40
16. Mel Heyrman – 56.90
* – Team season-best time.
$$ – School-record time.
