Molden and Marks Shine, Mixed Meet Results for the Jayhawks

Graylyn Jones won the one-meter diving
event Saturday.KU Double Dual Meet Final Results (.pdf)

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Standout swims by Haley Molden and Deanna Marks helped Kansas defeat Missouri State, 277-75, but couldn’t lift the Jayhawks past Denver, 204-138, on the final day of a double dual at Robinson Natatorium Saturday. A total of eight pool records fell during the meet, and the Kansas recognized seniors Marks and Caroline Patterson.

To begin the meet, the team introduced the senior class, swimming their final first home meet in Robinson Natatorium.

“Deanna and Caroline have meant so much to the program,” Kansas head coach Clark Campbell said. “They’re a small class but they’re mighty. Caroline is one of the best leaders that I’ve ever had the privilege of working with and Deanna is one of the best student-athletes that I’ve ever worked with. She’s had so many academic awards being a mechanical engineering and business administration double-major; she is awesome to work with. They’ve meant a lot to the team in their years here.”

After a tough Friday session, the girls came back strong for the 200-yard medley relay on Saturday with the Kansas A relay placing second with a time of 1:36.11 behind the University of Denver. The men of Missouri State lit up the pool and broke yet another pool record, the fifth of the meet. The team of Paul Le, Isaac Springer, Will Brand and Uvis Kalnins went a time of 1:32.30. Individually, Kalnins went on to break the 400-yard individual medley pool record in a time of 3:57.16 while Le shattered the 200-yard backstroke pool record in a time of 1:45.54.

Chelsie Miller and Maddie Myers of Denver battled it out in a close 400 IM race. Myers pulled ahead in the breaststroke portion of the race and finished ahead of Miller, who placed second overall with a time of 4:22.19. Not far behind her was Sammie Schurig, swimming a time of 4:35.75 for fourth overall. In the first heat of the race, Madison Straight had an early lead against the competition, finishing first in her heat with a time of 4:33.22, putting her in third place overall.

Coming off a great 200-yard freestyle swim from Friday, Molden had another standout swim in the 100-yard freestyle when she swam a time of 51.97 and placed second overall. Freshman Hannah Driscoll also had a strong swim of 52.64 placing third.

“My goal was just to go faster than my last meet,” Molden said. “I did, and I was really excited. My goal was to go 1:52 or faster in my 200 and 52 or faster in my 100. That’s what I did so I’m really happy with it.”

Sam Corea from the University of Denver took down the Robinson 100-yard backstroke record Friday and came back on Saturday to take down the 200. The University of Denver senior swam a time of 1:58.31 while Kansas sophomore Yulduz Kuchkarova swam into second with a time of 2:04.26.

Marks, a senior originally from Plano, Texas, felt the energy from the crowded natatorium and swam the 100-yard butterfly in 56.99, placing her third overall with a new best in-season time. Campbell’s goal for the girls was to stay within two seconds of their best 100 times, which Marks accomplished.

“It’s been a really exciting day, that’s for sure,” Marks said. “Starting off with the whole senior celebration, I really just wanted to honor my team and my family and swim well. We did do well; we performed amazingly for the first home meet of the season, so I’m really proud of us.”

Miller returned for the 500-yard freestyle and took home her first win for the day in a final time of 5:00.42. Sophomore Lindsay Manning was not far behind, finishing with 5:03.65 in third place.

In the diving well, coach Brian Pritt and the team came back from a challenging Friday on the three-meter with Graylyn Jones, Sydney Power and Nadia Khechfe placing first, second and third on the one-meter.

After finishing fourth and fifth overall in the 100-meter breaststroke, the Pocisk sisters returned on Saturday for the 200-yard breaststroke placing third and fourth. Gretchen Pocisk swam a time of 2:24.81 and Lydia Pocisk swam a time of 2:25.99, followed by Chelsie Miller in a time of 2:26.85 placing fifth overall.

In the final event of the day, the 400-yard freestyle relay, the Kansas B team went neck and neck with Denver B and Missouri State A. Before finishing in fifth, the Kansas A relay team was second in a time of 3:30.53, thanks in part to a strong anchor by Marks, splitting a time of 51.77.

“We had a really good second day,” Campbell said. “I was really happy for the team even though the results didn’t go in our favor team-wise, but swimming-wise we are really happy with how we competed and how the divers dove today. We’re much further along now than we were in October of last year, so that’s pretty exciting.”

Campbell and the team look forward to next weekend when they take on TCU and North Dakota in Robinson Natatorium Saturday, November 1, at noon.

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