Kansas Swim Sweeps at Sunflower Showdown

Friday, October 2

Topeka, Kan.

2 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

Sunflower Showdown

Kansas Swim Sweeps at Sunflower Showdown

10/2/2026 8:58:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Jayhawks secured a sweep across all 10, participating events, scoring 655 points at the Sunflower Showdown in Topeka. Additionally, junior Gabi Dyer would go on to earn two individual victories in the 100 and 200 freestyles.

"This was a pretty high level of execution for this early of season," says head coach Clark Campbell. "The mindset we've really been working on is making sure that we are all okay with being uncomfortable, being comfortable while being uncomfortable, that's been a big thing."

The Kansas A Team secured the first win of the day, comprised of seniors Bradie Ward, Ryan Johnston, junior Anna Gearhart, and sophomore Sarah Blake touching the wall at 1:43.07 in the 200 medley relay. Kansas' B, D, and C teams earned the remaining top four spots respectively.

Dyer claimed Kansas' second victory of the meet in the 200 freestyle, posting a time of 1:50.01, freshman Ivy Solt landed second at 1:53.06 and Ward took third.

In the 200 IM, sophomore Madison Wanger clocked a first-place time of 2:05.95 time, with freshmen Megan Liiste and Lauryn Vogt just milliseconds apart for second and third, respectively.

Sophomore Sarah Blake finished first in the 50 freestyle, touching the wall at 23.69, while junior Mia Waldron earned a runner-up finish at 24.18 and Johnston followed for third at 24.25.

The 100 butterfly saw junior Ella Hansen earn another first-place finish for the Jayhawks at a 55.68 time. She was followed by Gearhart at 56.09and Vogt claimed third at 57.85.

Dyer claimed her second victory of the meet in the 100 freestyle, touching the wall at 51.85. Milliseconds behind her, Blake posted second and Junior Tait Haag locked in third.

In her second event of the day, Solt placed first in the 500 freestyle, clocking in at 5:05.86, followed by junior Taylor Cloutman in second at 5:17.16.

Ward secured a victory in her third event of the meet, touching the wall at 55.81 in the 100 backstroke. Sophomores Kelsey Healy (58.27) and Hannah Green (58.41) would place second and third, respectively.

Johnston earned a victory in her third event, with a 1:02.93 finish in the 100 breaststroke. Liiste finished second at 1:06.74 and sophomore Easton Glandt placed third.

To cap off the Sunflower Showdown, Kansas' A Team (Blake, Gearhart, Junior Sophie Wallace, Hansen) placed first in the 200 freestyle relay for a collective time of 1:36.48. Kansas' B, D, and C teams would take up the next top four spots, respectively.

EVENT WINNERS
200-yard medley relay – Kansas A Team (Ward, Johnston, Gearhart, Blake), 1:43.07
200-yard freestyle – Gabi Dyer, 1:50.01
200-yard IM – Madison Wagner, 2:05.95
50-yard freestyle – Sarah Blake, 23.69
100-yard butterfly - Ella Hansen, 55.68
100-yard freestyle – Gabi Dyer, 51.85
500-yard freestyle – Ivy Solt, 5:05.86
100-yard backstroke – Bradie Ward, 55.81
100-yard breaststroke – Ryan Johnston, 1:02.93
200-yard freestyle relay – Kansas A Team (Blake, Gearhart, Wallace, Hansen), 1:36.48

UP NEXT
The Jayhawks will be back in Robinson for their first home meet of the season taking on South Dakota on Oct. 16-17 beginning at 5 PM CT.