Kansas Press Release
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Kansas swimming and diving head coach Clark Campbell set a team goal of 100 points for the first day of KU's dual meet against Iowa State. The Jayhawks surpassed his goal and lead the Cyclones 102-48 heading into the meet's second and final day of competition.
For yet another time this season, Robinson Natatorium was the scene for a dominant Kansas showing. The Jayhawks had won their previous home meets by a combined score of 597-384, and continued enjoying their home advantage, surpassing the threshold needed to secure the win by taking six of the day's eight events. Though they could have easily let their focus slip to the upcoming Big 12 Championship, the Jayhawks found incentive to provide a statement against one of their Big 12 foes.
"I think it was important we came out strong and asserted our dominance because we're always two and three at Big 12s, so we want them to know that we're going to be ahead of them this year," said Haley Bishop.
Kansas enjoyed a fast start to the meet, taking the top two spots in the 200-yard medley relay. Yulduz Kuchkarova, Haley Downey, Pia Pavlic and Bishop teamed up on the 'A' relay team to post a 1:45.87 time. They were followed shortly by teammates Hannah Angell, Lydia Pocisk, Leah Pfitzer and Carly Straight (1:45.87).
Freshman Jenny Nusbaum raced through the 200-yard freestyle in 1:50.97, notching her seventh win in the event this season. The Jayhawks completed a sweep of the 200 free behind Sammie Schurig's 1:51.97 swim and Madison Straight's season-best time of 1:52.68. Kansas' backstrokers replicated this feat, sweeping the 100-yard backstroke behind the efforts of Pavlic (56.39), Kuchkarova (56.46) and Madison Hutchison (56.80).
In the 100 breaststroke, Downey earned the victory with her 1:05.3 swim. Her performance was followed by a Kansas sweep of the 200 butterfly. Bishop finished well ahead of the field, with her time of 2:05.48 beating the closest competitor by almost four seconds. Cassaundra Pino and Zoya Wahlstrom secured the sweep with their respective times of 2:09.35 and 2:09.90.
Carly Straight provided the final strike to the Cyclones of the evening, claiming her second individual victory of the season after sprinting through the 50 freestyle in 24.11 seconds. The freshman is heating up at the right time, posting her two individual wins in consecutive dual meets.
Despite having the safety net of a 54-point lead, the Jayhawks do not plan on stepping off the gas pedal on Saturday. Instead, they will be rehearsing their routines for the Big 12 Championship, where the swimmers will have to race competitively in morning and evening sessions.
"(This meet is) just like Big 12 Championship," Campbell explained. "Tonight was finals, Big 12 finals start at six, and preliminaries start at 10 the next day. We're trying to fine-tune our routine and plan, so when we go there in two-and-a-half weeks we've got it nailed down."
The second and final session will commence at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The event will be open and free to the public, who can find free event parking in Lot 61. The parking lot is located at the corner of Sunnyside Avenue and Illinois Street, east of Robinson Hall and past the tennis and sand volleyball courts.
