The University of Arkansas won big in their senior meet against the University of Illinois, 187-101. The score was modified by Arkansas use of exhibition swims, they posted the best performance in all sixteen contested events.
Two Razorback seniors were double winners on the day. Nina Droic both the sprint freestyles with a healthy margin in each race. Anna Mayfield was the first to the wall in both the 100 backstroke and the 500 freestyle. Both swimmers also took part in the meet opening win in the 200 Medley relay.
Two more Arkansas swimmers were able to take two individual victories. Madison Strathman won both the 100 and 200 breaststroke. In each case her back end speed was too much for the competition to hold off. Chloe Hannam took the top spot in the 200 backstroke and 200 IM. Her strategy was the mirror opposite of Strathman, as she charged out to a lead in each race.
The Razorback divers would trade off victories. Shelby Bartlett won the 3M board, while Hannah Bortnick was the top diver on the 1M.
Despite the sweep, Illinois was in the fight in a number of races. Butterflyer Lori Lynn as a few tenths behind first in the 100 butterfly. Sam Stratford closed well but couldn’t overcome an early deficit in the 200 freestyle. The result for Stratford was the same in the 200 IM. Gabbi Bethke was in dead heat for the first half of the 100 freestyle.
Arkansas now moves on to the Southeastern Conference Championship in Columbia, Missouri. That meet begins February 16th. The Fighting Illini will be competing at the B1G Championship just a day later in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
