Seniors Shine on Final Day of Double Dual
Final Results (.pdf)
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Moments after being recognized for her contributions to the Kansas swimming and diving program for senior day, Chelsie Miller received a standing ovation for her record-breaking swim in the 400-yard individual medley Saturday afternoon inside Robinson Natatorium.
The Houston, Texas native was one of four swimmers, the only woman, to take down a Robinson Natatorium pool record in the second day of the Denver – Missouri State double dual. Miller recorded a time of 4:18.37 to win the 400 IM by nearly eight seconds and erasing her previous pool record of 4:18.76.
“It was kind of surprising,” Miller said of her record-breaking performance. “I saw the coaches on the side getting a little excited so I knew something was up. It’s really cool to be this fast this early in the year.”
Miller also took first in the 500-yard freestyle, recording a 4:57.44, her fourth first-place finish of the meet.
Denver and Missouri State’s men’s squads contributed the other three records in the 200-yard freestyle relay, 200-yard backstroke and the 200-yard breaststroke. The Pioneers’ relay team consisting of Ray Bornman, Kyle Robrock, Time Cottam and Anton Loncar earned a 1:22.83, barely beating Texas A&M’s swim of 1:22.97 in 2003. Sophomore Anton Loncar from DU glided into the record books in the 200 free turning in a time of 1:47.49. The Bears’ freshman Artur Osvath claimed the final pool record of the meet with his performance in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:01.94).
The rest of the Jayhawks’ senior class also had an impressive outing with Haley Molden claiming KU’s second victory of the afternoon in the 100-yard freestyle, turning in a time of 51.78. Bryce Hinde finished fifth in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:22.92) and Laura Bilsborrow recorded a 4:40.02 in the 400 IM.
“Chelsie had a really good meet from top to bottom,” head coach Clark Campbell said. “That 400 IM swim was big-time. Also, Haley’s win in the 100 free was really good for us, all of our seniors performed really well today.”
Kansas’ A relay team – Haley Bishop, Molden, Pia Pavlic and Hannah Driscoll – opened up the competition with a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay earning a 1:36.33.
Bishop, a member of the relay team, turned in three top-two finishes. She was also a member of the second-place 400-yard freestyle relay team (3:29.64). The freshman from Apex, North Carolina earned an individual second-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 56.78.
Sophomore Madison Straight (2:03.17) and junior Sammie Schurig (2:04.25) took second and third in the 200-yard backstroke, respectively. Denver’s Morgan McCormick won the event in 1:59.43.
Diving duo, Graylyn Jones and Nadia Khechfe swept the one- and three-meter competitions this weekend as Jones won the three-meter with a score of 239.05. Khechfe came in second scoring 231.05 points for the Jayhawks.
“This weekend was great for where we are at this early in the season,” diving coach Gabe Downey said. “I was really happy with the outcome and the process of getting there was really good too. We aren’t trying to be at our peak performance right now so we are really early but winning still matters and being able to help out the team still matters, so I was really happy with the girls’ ability to do that.”
Kansas beat Missouri State, 277-69, while falling to Denver, 188-162. The Pioneer’s also took the dual against Missouri State, 279-67. On the men’s side, Denver beat Missouri State, 243-98.
Up Next: The Jayhawks will head to Fort Worth, Texas to face Big 12 foe TCU on Oct. 31 for their first road meet of the season. The competition will take place at the University Recreation Center and is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
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