NCAA ?B? cuts highlight day one of the Hoosierland Open

BLOOMINGTON, IND. – University of Arkansas junior swimmer Stephanie Carr and freshman Katie Kastes turned in NCAA ‘B’ cut times Thursday at the Hoosierland Open Invitational in Bloomington, Ind.

Carr and Kastes’ times came in the 500 freestyle. Carr finished third in the event with a season-best time of 4:49.98, bettering her preliminary time by almost three seconds. Kastes placed 11th with a time of 4:53.18, marking her second B standard of the year.

The Lady Razorbacks also earned seven career-best times and 21 season-bests in the just the first day of competition in Indiana.

“We had a great start to the meet,” said head coach Jeff Poppell. “The young ladies did a very good job racing against some of the best teams in the country and we hope to build on that the next two days.”

Freshman Ashley Largo and Jamie Marks placed 13th and 14th in the 500 free with times of 4:56.91 and 4:58.48, respectively. Largo’s time was a career best. Also turning in personal-bests in the event were freshmen Erica Totten (5:00.19) and Brittany Kimmitt (5:05.64).

In the 200 individual medley, Kastes touched in 12th with an individual-best 2:05.24. She was followed by Marks with a career-best 2:07.20 and junior Elizabeth Engs with a 2:09.50.

Sophomore Lynette Ng had a personal best time of 24.05 in the prelims of the 50 free and was just .03 seconds off in the finals with a 24.08, which was good for a 14th-place finish. Senior Emily Gregory (24.14), junior Summer Jackson (24.18) and senior Tifanie Silver (24.26) had the next best times on the team. Silver and Gregory’s times were season bests.

On the one-meter springboard, junior Madison Palmer proved herself once again finishing third. Her best score of the day came in the semifinals with a 287.90.

The Lady’Backs swam two season-best times in the relays. Jackson, Ng, Gregory and Silver finished sixth with a time of 1:36.29 in the 200 free relay. Ng, Jackson, Gregory and Kastes also touched in sixth in the 400 medley relay with a 3:50.34.

Action continues in the pool tomorrow and Friday in Bloomington with the finals beginning at approximately 6 p.m. both days.

For more information about Arkansas swimming and diving, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.