Betsy Wizard Makes Arkansas 200 Fly Record Disappear in Win over Liberty
Arkansas freshman Betsy Wizard obliterated the school and Arkansas Natatorium records in the 200 butterfly on Friday night, making history in the Razorbacks’ 177-122 win over Liberty.
Wizard downed the oldest record on the books for the Razorbacks, set in 2006 by Katie C. Kastes at 1:55.66. Only one other Arkansas swimmer (Chelsea Tatlow in 2017) had been under 1:56.5 before Wizard’s magical performance Friday evening.
Teammates Luciana Thomas and Eleonora Camisa were second and third as Arkansas used its depth in the stroke events to turn on the jets mid-meet and distance itself from their visiting nonleague foe.
Wizard finished second in the 500 freestyle to Thomas’s winning time of 4:49.64. She also anchored the Razorbacks’ winning 400 freestyle relay, teaming with Alessia Ferraguti, Kobie Melton and Bella Cothern.
Ferraguti and Vanessa Herrmann dominated the breaststroke events. Ferraguti won the 100 in 59.78 with Herrmann second just four tenths of a second back, then Herrmann edged her by .19 seconds in the 200. Cothern was third in the 100 breast and won the 100 free.
Melton led teammate Rebecca Simpson in a 1-2 in the 200 free and also won the 200 back. Andrea Sansores won the 100 back and 100 fly. She also finished second in the 50 free. Grace Walker was victorious in both diving events, topping out at 320.40 points on 3-meter for a winning margin of more than 50 points.
Liberty started the meet strong by pulling an upset in the 400 medley relay with the foursome of Abbie Shaw, Heather Gardner, Chloe Harris and Eva Suggs. Grace Shaw won the 1,000 free with teammate Isabelle Gomez second, and Abbie Shaw finished second to Sansores in the 100 back. Sydney Stricklin edged Sansores by .02 seconds to win the 50 free in 23.27.
The Flames would have to wait until the 200 individual medley for their next victory, though, claimed by Grace Isaacs.
