Lady'Back Relay Improves at Conference

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-The University of Arkansas swimming and diving relay team paced the Lady Razorbacks on the second day of the Southeastern Conference Championships in Knoxville, Tenn., Thursday, Feb. 16.

The 200-freestyle relay team of junior Kristen Thibodeaux, freshman Summer Jackson, and sophomores Tifanie Silver and Emily Gregory finished ninth while setting a season-best time. In the team standings, the Lady’Backs are currently in ninth.

Arkansas swimming head coach Anne Goodman James said she was pleased with the relay team’s vast improvement.

“I am so very impressed with our sprint relay,” she said. “They dropped a huge three and a half seconds. We were led by Emily Gregory with an outstanding anchor leg and the fastest split on the team. That is so impressive considering that she is just coming off of shoulder surgery.”

In the 50 freestyle, Jackson led the Lady’Backs as she took 27th. Gregory and Silver followed with 35th and 41st-place finishes, respectively.

Goodman James said she was happy with freshman Dashya Kimmel’s performance, who is competing in her first collegiate conference meet.

“Dashya Kimmel also had a lifetime best time in the 50 free, and we are looking forward to her primary event, the 100 back, Friday.”

In the 200 individual medley, freshman Elizabeth Engs was 26th and senior Angela Kora finished 33rd. On the three-meter springboard, sophomore Brieanne Kushner took 18th with redshirt freshman Madison Palmer placing 26th.

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