Swimmers post big weekend in Atlanta

Great things came in threes this past weekend as the Arkansas swim team was represented at the national and international levels.

Juniors Vanessa Herrmann, Kobie Melton and Andrea Sansores were joined by sophomore Adéla Vavrinova and freshman Bradi Jones at the Mizuno Atlanta Classic hosted at the Georgia Tech 1996 Olympic Pool. Vavrinova and Sansores posted the best times in the 100m free and 100 back respectively to be considered for Olympic consideration for their home countries. Herrmann used the opportunity as a tune up for the U.S. Olympic Trials set for June 13-20 and performed very well.

The two biggest highlights of the weekend came from Melton and Jones. Swimming in the 100m Backstroke, Melton blasted a 1:02.24 which would be an Arkansas school record and U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying time. Not to be out done Jones, powered her way to a lifetime performance in the 100m breast of 1:10.55 and another U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier.

Meanwhile in Hungary at the European Championships, 2020 Arkansas grad Anna Hopkin placed 6th in her signature event – the 50m free – and then partnered with three teammates to win gold in the 4×100 freestyle relay and set a new British record. This is Hopkin’s first major gold medal at the senior level as she continues to prepare for competition at the Olympics in Tokyo later this summer.