Day 1 of the Big 12 Kansas-Iowa State dual ended with a significant Kansas lead, but the Cyclones threatened some with momentum, winning 3 of the final 4 races on opening day.
Day 2 started out with that momentum maintained. Senior Amanda Paulson, a day removed from her 100th career win, took the 100 free in 51.73, leading a 1-2 for Iowa State.
But Kansas answered with a clutch touchout win in the 200 back to stop the momentum and ultimately ice the meet.
Iowa State junior Marissa Engel challenged for the team’s fourth-straight event win, but Kansas’s tough sophomore Yulya Kuchkarova answered back, shutting the door on the Cyclone run with a 2:01.38 to 2:01.71 victory.
That was a much-needed reprieve in points for the Jayhawks, as Iowa State had a tough lineup over the next two events. Those ended in Cyclone wins, with freshman Kasey Roberts completing a sweep of the breaststroke events (2:17.86 in the 200) and school record-holder Karyl Clarete topped the 500 free in 5:02.04.
But Kansas took the final three swimming events, getting a 56.12 win in the 100 fly from Pia Pavlic and seeing versatile star Chelsie Miller top Roberts for the 200 IM win in 2:04.53. The Jayhawks would also win the 400 free relay, dropping only 1-meter diving to Iowa State’s Elyse Brouillette.
That capped a 169-131 win for Kansas. The two teams will collide again in the Big 12 Championships in just under three weeks.
