FAYETTEVILLE — Winning nine of the last 10 events of Friday night’s meet against Kansas, Arkansas defeated the Jayhawks 180-120 to extend its winning streak over Kansas to 10 straight meetings.
The Razorbacks have won seven of their last nine dual meets this year, concluding their regular season with a 9-3 overall record, including a 6-1 mark against non-conference opponents.
Arkansas has won 31 of the last 32 non-conference dual meets, including 15 of the last 16 away from home. Overall, Arkansas is 7-2 this season away from home, including a 4-1 mark against non-conference opponents.
“This was a tough win,” said coach Neil Harper. ” Kansas came out swinging and won two of the first three events. I have to credit the entire team for hanging in there, getting behind each other and rising to the challenge.
“We were led by double event winners Chloe Hannam, Nicole Gillis and Madison Strathman, as they helped us gain momentum. Ayumi Macias and Peyton Palsha were very dependable getting a win and second each in the 1000 and 500 free and then also, Kiera Michailoff-Russell and Annah Carney each winning the 50 and 100 free helped set up for the win.
“I thought the perfect finish was senior team captain Chelsea Tatlow’s come from behind win in the last relay.”
After recording a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay to start the night’s meet, Arkansas recorded its first event win in the first individual event, as sophomore Ayumi Macias claimed the 1000 freestyle title, touching in 10:09.27, followed by freshman Peyton Palsha, who touched second in 10:09.33.
In the 200 free, junior Annah Carney was Arkansas’ only podium finish in the event with a third-place showing in 1:52.77.
Arkansas followed that performance with two podium finishes in the 100 backstroke, as senior Chloe Hannam finished second in 56.96 and freshman Michaela Degnan was third in 57.66.
Junior Madison Strathman claimed the second event win for Arkansas, as she touched in 1:03.43 in the 100 breaststroke, while junior Sydney Angell finished third in 1:05.87.
In the 200 fly, junior Marlena Pigliacampi would touch second in 2:02.62, as junior Cris Roberts and senior Taylor Weiss finished fourth (2:04.74) and fifth (2:06.54), respectively.
The Razorbacks would win each of the next seven events to extend their lead to 152-112.
Junior Kiera Michailoff-Russell won the 50 free in 24.11, as freshman Shea Gregson touched third in 24.28 and senior Olivia Weekley finished fourth in 24.33.
On the boards, junior Nicole Gillis claimed both titles on the one-meter and three-meter, including setting a personal-best on the 3m with a score of 353.93, outscoring her competition by 85.58 points. On the one-meter, she scored a 312.23, outscoring the field by 42.98 points.
Carney would claim the 100 free with a time of 52.22. Senior Chelsea Tatlow touched third (52.34), while Gregson finished fourth (52.83) and Michailoff-Russell touched fifth (53.10).
The Razorbacks claimed their fifth straight event win with a victory by Hannam in the 200 back in 1:59.46. Strathman would continue Arkansas’ streak with a win in the 200 breast in a time of 2:17.31, as Angell recorded a podium finish with a third-place showing in 2:19.96.
Palsha won the 500 free in 4:56.74, as Macias followed in 4:58.43. In the final individual event, Arkansas recorded the top-two times in the 200 IM, as Hannam touched first in 2:06.23, while Garrison was right behind in 2:06.39.
In the final event, Arkansas squeaked out a victory in the 400 free relay, as the Razorbacks touched in 3:27.68, followed by Kansas in 3:27.77.
As the regular season comes to a close, the Razorbacks will turn their attention to the SEC Championships that will take place in College Station, Texas, from February 13 to February 17.
