The Kansas women’s swim and dive team completes its home schedule for the 2025–26 season with a 163–137 victory over Arkansas on Friday, Jan. 23, at Robinson Natatorium, marking the Jayhawks’ first win over the Razorbacks in six years.
“We are really happy with how they competed and finished up the home part of the season,” Kansas coach Clark Campbell said. “We’re in a good spot. For them to come out today and race the way they did, it was pretty amazing. We’ve trained well all year and now we have started training for the championship.”
Kansas set the tone early as the 200-yard medley relay team of senior Lydia Lafferty, junior Ryan Johnston, sophomore Anna Gearhart and freshman Sarah Blake opened the meet with a first-place finish while tying the Robinson Pool record at 1:39.58.
The Jayhawks continued to stack points in the distance events. Sophomore Tait Haag placed second in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a personal best time of 10:04.18, finishing just one second behind Arkansas. Freshmen Ivy Solt (10:10.44) and Aubrey Tuthill (10:11.94) followed in third and fourth, respectively.
Sophomore Gabi Dyer earned a runner-up finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.20), while senior Hailey Farrell placed fourth with a lifetime best finish in 1:49.90 and sophomore Taylor Cloutman finished sixth.
Lafferty captured Kansas’ first individual win of the meet in the 100-yard backstroke, touching the wall at 53.25. Junior Bradie Ward placed third (55.61), followed by freshman Kelsey Healy in sixth (56.60).
Johnston added another victory for the Jayhawks in the 100-yard breaststroke, as well as a lifetime best time, winning in 1:00.89. Senior Molly Robinson secured third (1:03.81), while senior Caroline Blake placed fourth. Sophomore Ella Hansen also completed a personal best time in the event with 56.93.
Freshman Sammy Cummins won the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:00.02. Sophomores Maya Lambert and Gearhart finished third and fifth, respectively.
In the sprint freestyle events, sophomore Sophie Wallace recorded second-place finishes in the 50-yard freestyle (23.42) and 100-yard freestyle with a personal best time (50.23). Sarah Blake placed fourth in the 50-yard free (23.58), with sophomore Izzy Porter sixth. Blake later added a fifth-place finish in the 100-yard free, followed by sister Caroline Blake in sixth.
Ward won the 200-yard backstroke in 1:57.33, marking the Jayhawks’ second Robinson Pool record tie of the day. Farrell added a fourth-place finish and personal record time (2:01.18), and freshman Madison Wagner placed sixth.
Johnston completed a sweep of the breaststroke events with a win in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12.72). Robinson finished fourth (2:19.33), followed by senior Aidan Howze in fifth (2:20.09).
Dyer highlighted the meet by breaking her own Robinson Pool record in the 500-yard freestyle for the second time this season. Kansas swept the top three spots, with Solt finishing second (4:54.90) and Haag third (4:55.72).
Lafferty earned her second individual win of the meet — and third event victory overall — by claiming the 100-yard butterfly in 53.30. Gearhart placed third (54.63), while Hansen finished fifth.
Farrell secured her first individual win of the day in the 200-yard individual medley, posting a time of 2:01.44. Wagner finished fourth (2:04.87), followed by Lambert in fifth. Freshman Hannah Green also locked in a personal record time of 2:11.18.
In the final event of the day, Wallace, Sarah Blake, Waldron and Solt recorded a combined time of 3:21.95 as the Kansas A team in the 400-yard freestyle relay to seal the Jayhawk’s win over the Razorbacks.
On the boards, senior Lize van Leeuwen placed fourth in the 3-meter dive with 245.03 points, freshman Kelly Estebo finished fifth with 222.09, while senior Grace Zifcak placed sixth at 219.60. The 1-meter dive saw Van Leeuwen in runner up with 289.20 points, Zifcak (221.85) in fifth, and Estebo (191.85) in sixth.
For Arkansas, Junior Harriet Rogers had another successful outing, placing first in both the 50 and 100 freestyle. Senior Sydney Craft picked up another win in the 1,000 freestyle and junior Tammy Greenwood placed first in the 200 freestyle.
“This was a great college dual meet between two rivals,” Arkansas coach Neil Harper said. “In swimming and diving all you can control is your own performances. Kansas performed very well today. Our team made me proud in their effort, belief and execution. We are right where we need to be in preparation for SEC’s and will continue our focus for Vanderbilt and the post season.”
On the springboards, sophomore Majo Sanchez shined, sweeping the diving events on the day. Sanchez scored a 297.98 on 1-meter and a 318.30 on 3-meter.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Kansas and Arkansas. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
