Swimming & diving alumni meet slated for Friday
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Generations of Jayhawks gather together for the ultimate test of who still has their flare as the Kansas swimming and diving team hosts the Kansas Alumni Meet Friday, September 28 at 3 p.m.
Forty Kansas swimming alum, dating back to the 1970’s, anxiously await the moment they thought would never come – a chance to watch their fellow swimmers and showcase their talents against some of the best alumni in the program.
Eighteen alumni, both men and women, will be participating in the events on Friday and head coach Clark Campbell is excited to see them bring their energy to the pool, knowing that the alumni racing and diving in the events will give no mercy.
“All of the alumni are former Division I athletes so they are going to be competitive,” Campbell said. “They are not going to give one inch, so the current swimmers are going to have to really step up and race well because we have a lot of really fast alumni coming to this meet.”
The meet will consist of two relay races that only alumni will be competing in – the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay – as well as six individual races that the current swimmers will also compete in.
In addition, one-meter diving will be mixed into the events throughout the course of the meet in two-dive intervals.
Friday’s quick races make for the perfect test to see where the swimmers will be placed for the collegiate season relays, as they will be on their “A” game for the alumni.
“We have our first meet coming up so we need to know who we will put in what (event),” Campbell said. “We are going to put people in strategic events Friday to see what our best relay combinations can be. So this meet will serve a purpose of welcoming our alumni back and connecting with them as well as starting to figure out the (current) team and what are our best team relay packages are going to be.”
The current team is not looking to make it easy on the returnees at their first race inside Robinson Natatorium. Although it is a fun competition in preparation for the competitive season, they also understand the conditions.
Following the fun the long distance swimmers had at the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Open Water Championship this past weekend, the sprinters now get their chance to showcase what they can do in a comfortable setting before the team starts off the regular-season on October 12, when they will take on South Dakota and Missouri State in a double dual at home.
“They have a shared experience,” Campbell said. “It will be a competition where there will be no losing. It is a win for everybody, and it will be really good for our team to have that first race opportunity to shake the rust off before the actual collegiate season starts. It will be a good test for right now.”
Fans are encouraged to cheer on the alumni and current swimmers while they race stroke for stroke in the same pool.
All home meets in Robinson Natatorium are free and open to the public. Fans who plan to attend are encouraged to park in Lot 90. Those that can’t attend can follow the action on social media via #KUswimdive.
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