Jayhawks Return Home for Two-Day Double Dual

Meet features Big 12 newcomer TCU and WAC foe North Dakota

Junior Morgan Sharp picked up a pair of first-place finishes against Nebraska-Omaha.

Nov. 1, 2012

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas swimming and diving team will host its first double dual meet of the season, beginning this Friday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. and concluding on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 10 am., at Robinson Natatorium.

This weekend’s meet will feature Big 12 newcomer, TCU, as well as WAC opponent North Dakota. In addition to the women’s duals, TCU and North Dakota will bring their men’s teams to face each other.

Kansas (2-1) is coming off a trip to Omaha, Neb., where the Jayhawks swam a successful meet to defeat Nebraska-Omaha, 137-98. Freshman Chelsie Miller and junior Morgan Sharp led the Jayhawks against the Mavericks, each picking up a pair of first-place finishes.

“I thought we did really well,” Kansas head coach Clark Campbell said. “It was challenging, but at the same time, the kids were really looking forward to it, because they had a chance to do other events. It was a good meet to have to break things up a little bit and then have the whole weekend to train and enjoy homecoming.”

TCU (2-0) heads to Lawrence following a win at the Rice Invitational, where the Horned Frogs narrowly edged out Rice for a first place finish and totaled 1,045 points over two days. The Big 12 newcomers return senior Sabine Rasch, who qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle.

“It is going to be very competitive,” Campbell said. “They are very similar to us, so it will be good challenge. They are going to be formidable and I’m sure they are going to be equally excited of breaking into the Big 12 and getting their first Big 12 meet. It is exciting to have new blood in the conference with TCU and West Virginia and we feel honored to be TCU’s first Big 12 opponent in swimming.”

North Dakota (3-2) defeated South Dakota, 155-135, in their last meet. North Dakota will be led by freshman Caitlin Quon, who picked up WAC swimmer of the week honors earlier this year, for her efforts in a double dual with St. Cloud State and Nebraska.

“We swam against them last year and they are a solid team,” Campbell said. “They are new to Division I and I think they will be well represented in the competition.”

This weekend’s multi-day format gives the Jayhawks a change of pace from the normal dual meet format and allows them to get in extra practice, in preparation for the championship style of the Kansas Classic.

“We are swimming a lot more events (this weekend),” Campbell said. “We get more events in than a typical dual meet, because we are going to spread it out over two days. It will be a good opportunity for us to get in a lot or racing, to set us up for the Kansas Classic in a couple weeks.”

This weekend’s double dual meet features 12 individual swim events, three relay races and two diving events. The full order of events is as follows:

Friday’s event order (5 p.m.)
200-yard freestyle relay
100-yard breaststroke/diving (women three-meter/men one-meter)
200-yard freestyle
100-yard backstroke
200-yard butterfly
final dive rounds (minimum 15 minute break)
50-yard freestyle
200-yard IM
1,000-yard freestyle (one heat women/one heat men)
400-yard medley relay

Saturday’s event order (10 a.m.)
200-yard medley relay
400-yard IM/start diving (women one-meter/men three-meter)
100-yard freestyle
200-yard backstroke
final dive rounds (minimum 15 minute break)
100-yard butterfly
500-yard freestyle
200-yard breaststroke

400-yard freestyle relay

The Jayhawk swimmers will conclude the fall season, Nov. 16-18, when they host the Kansas Classic in Topeka, Kan. The Kansas divers will conclude their fall season, Nov. 15-17, at the Phil Hansel Invite in Houston, Texas.

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