LAWRENCE – Denver swimming leads Kansas, Missouri State after day one of the Kansas Double Dual
Denver Press Release
The University of Denver swimming and diving squads are leading University of Kansas (women only) and Missouri State University after day one of competition on Friday at Robinson Natatorium. The DU women lead Kansas 108 – 77, and Missouri State 145.50 – 39.50 over . The men’s team also dominated the first day of competition with 105.50 to Missouri State’s 80.50.
“We had a good start tonight and have built a little bit of a lead to protect going into tomorrow,” head coach Brian Schrader said. “Both KU and MSU are well coached and have some great athletes. I fully expect to be challenged tomorrow.”
Samantha Corea (Vancouver, British Columbia) took the pool record in the 100 backstroke (54.13). Drew Matthews (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Can.) turned in a win of her own in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.96. Amanda Sanders (Superior, Colo.) continued her winning streak in the 100 breaststroke swimming a 1:04.95, at the past two meets. Dana Gau (Waukesha, Wis.) led the University of Denver’s divers in the 3-meter event with a final score of 256.35 points.
Dylan Bunch (Boulder City, Nev.) won the 1000 freestyle with a time of 9:28.05 and led off the winning 800 freestyle relay with teammates Luke Williams (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Andrew Torres (Arvada, Colo.) and Ray Bornman (Mackay, Queensland) with a time of 6:47.79. Adding to the Pioneer wins on Friday night; Bornman took first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:38.57. Ross Edfort (Somerset, N.J.) led the University of Denver’s men’s diving team, winning the 3-meter event with a final score of 332.50 points.
Missouri State Press Release
Missouri State broke three pool records to highlight the first day of the Kansas Double Dual in college swimming and diving on Friday, Oct. 24, at Robinson Natatorium.
The Bears’ men’s swimming and diving team set a pool record in its first event, finishing the 200 medley relay in a first-place time of 1:32.30 behind the group of Paul Le, Isaac Springer, Will Brand and Uvis Kalnins.
Le swam a season-best 48.29 in the 100 back and also set the pool-record mark in the event. He also won the 50 free in a season-best time of 20.46. Kalnins notched a Natatorium record with a 200 IM time of 1:49.81 and also earned a second-place finish in the 200 free (1:38.88).
One of the top events for the Bears was the 100 breast, with Springer earning a top time (57.37) and finish, while Aaron Dennis placed fourth in a season-best time of 58.26.
Other top times notched on the first day of action included a second-place time in the 1000 free by Miguel Davila (9:30.05), third-place honors for Isaac McKnight in the 50 free (21.74), a finish at 1:56.25 for Will Brand in the 200 fly and also Canaan Campbell with a personal-best 1:58.63 in the 200 fly.
Garrett Nevels had the highest finish among the men’s and women’s divers on day 1 of the Double Dual, placing second with 327.35 points in the 3-meter dive.
The MSU women’s swimming and diving team was led by Dora Kiss who hit a best-mark in the 200 fly (2:05.50) by finishing in third place, while Anna Bump also placed third in the 50 free with a time of 24.31.
In the 100 back, both Sydney Zupan (58.42) and Emily Chesser (1:00.12) snatched season-best marks. Andi Burroughs beat her top time of the year in the 100 breast (1:09.35) for the Bears.
Denver currently holds a 105.50-80.50 lead over the MSU men and a 145.50-39.50 advantage over the women. The Jayhawks’ women have a 143.00-42.00 lead over MSU in their matchup. The Bears continue Double Dual action at noon on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Robinson Natatorium.
Kansas Press Release
Four pool records were wiped off the board during the Friday session of Kansas swimming and diving’s double dual with Denver and Missouri State at Robinson Natatorium. At the conclusion of session one, Kansas leads Missouri State 143-42 while trailing Denver 108-77.
To kick off the meet, Kansas A and B relays placed second and third with times of 1:44.98 and 1:47.57, respectively, in the 200-yard medley relay behind the first place Denver A relay, but the real quick start came on the men’s side. The first of three pool records was taken down by the Missouri State relay team of Paul Le, Issac Springer, Will Brand and Uvis Kalnins with a time of 1:32.30. Le later claimed an individual pool record in the 100-yard backstroke and Kalnins posted the fastest 200-yard IM time in Robinson Natatorium.
Sophomore Lindsay Manning chalked up points for the Jayhawks swimming the 1000-yard freestyle in a time of 10:24.14, placing third overall behind Maddie Myers and Tyra Rooney, both from the University of Denver. The distance freestyle event was followed by mid-distance 200-yard freestyle, where Haley Molden swam an impressive time of 1:51.04, placing her first overall. Molden’s time ranks her among the top-50 in the nation for the 200-yard freestyle event so far this season.
“Molden’s 200 free, that was really good,” Kansas head coach Clark Campbell said. “We’ve dug ourselves into a hole, we’re down 31 points going into tomorrow we have to come back and be ready to go if we want to bring it back tomorrow.”
The first women’s pool record was broken by Sam Corea of the University of Denver in the 100-yard backstroke. Corea went a time of 54.13, breaking Iuliia Kuzhil of Kansas’ record from 2010. Following Corea, KU’s Kuchkarova went a time of 57.41, placing her third overall.
In the diving well, Graylyn Jones, Nadia Khechfe and Sydney Power placed second, third and fourth, respectively. The trio, along with sophomore Amanda Maser, is a young team and diving coach Brian Pritt is confident that they will improve throughout the season.
“I think that we just need to start being more consistent,” Pritt said. “Not just diving, but a consistent attitude after every dive. If you miss a dive a little bit, it carries over onto your next dives. We just have to stay positive and dive like we dive in practice. I know my girls are better than that, there’s no doubt about it, they just need to learn how to compete.”
A sister showdown in heat two of the women’s 100-yard breaststroke featured Lydia and Gretchen Pocisk. Gretchen and Lydia placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Hannah Driscoll placed second overall with a time of 1:06.81. The three brought in a total of seven points for the Jayhawks.
Chelsie Miller, Kansas’ first individual Big 12 champion, returned to Robinson for her first home meet of the season in the 200-yard butterfly. The junior went a time of 2:02.85, placing her first overall, the first of three wins in the meet for Miller. Not far behind was senior Deanna Marks, with a time of 2:07.53 in fifth place.
In the women’s 50-yard freestyle Pia Pavlic and Driscoll placed fourth and fifth with times of 24.51 and 24.67, respectively. Leah Pfitzer won her heat in time of 24.83, placing her seventh overall.
Miller and Johanna Roas of Denver battled it out in the butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke portions of the 200-yard individual medley. Miller pulled ahead in the final 50 yards of the freestyle to beat Roas and win the event in a time of 2:06.15. Madison Straight placed third in her heat with a time of 2:08.93, placing her fourth overall. Marks and Lydia Pocisk placed fifth and sixth respectively, with times of 2:10.46 and 2:11.65.
Entering the final event for the night, Kansas and Denver looked to get ahead in the overall scores with the 800-yard freestyle relay. Molden and Merecka swam neck and neck with Myers and Mullenix of Denver, but Denver quickened the pace and pulled ahead, finishing with a final time of 7:33.16, KU in 7:35.41.
“Individually our goal was to be within two seconds of their best 100 time,” Campbell said. “We talked about how we want to get into good habits, making sure we cool down, talk to the coaches, talk to themselves and support each other. That part is good. What we have to do right now is take care of ourselves, eat a good dinner, go to bed early, and come in with a good attitude and ready to go tomorrow.”
At the end of Friday, Denver’s women lead Missouri State 145.50-39.50 and the Denver men lead Missouri State 105.50-80.50. The meet will continue Saturday, October 25 beginning at noon in Robinson Natatorium. Admission to the event is free.