Jayhawks begin 2019 in Arizona
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Kansas swimming and diving team heads to altitude for their first competition of 2019 in double dual fashion against Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado in Flagstaff, Arizona on Friday, January 11th inside the Wall Aquatics Center.
Coming back from holiday break, the Jayhawks took the trek west to the Grand Canyon state where they have been immersing themselves in elevation training in preparation for the meet Friday evening.
Head coach Clark Campbell reflects on the Jayhawks as they round out their training time 6,909 feet above sea level.
“It has been going great,” Campbell said. “When we started the trip we told the team what the goals were for the week and they really stepped up. One thing that training in elevation does is that it gets you out of your comfort zone. They have been doing a fantastic job of meeting our objectives that we set forward to accomplish. So each practice it looks like they are getting more comfortable and I am looking forward to see how we race tomorrow.”
The team seems to be acclimated enough for competition but it takes more than just hoping for the best when it comes to preparing your body to swim in such different conditions.
“What you want to do is stay fixed onto your level, you don’t want to try to be playing catch up,” Campbell said. “The team did a really good job of doing their homework before we got here so they are definitely seeing the benefits of the high altitude training.”
Although the Jayhawks have seen altitude training before the last time the Jayhawks have competed in Flagstaff was in 2008 when they took first-place against Northern Arizona, 193-103.
“We came up and swam with Northern Arizona in 2008, many moons ago,” Campbell said. “It was a different thing because we spent fall break in Tempe and came up to Flagstaff, did the meet and then went home. But this time we’ve spent enough days here now where there should be some acclimation.”
The double dual will begin at 5 p.m. central time.
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