FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — LSU swimmers Katherine Noland and Morgan McGee each swept their respective races and the Lady Tiger relay squads emerged victorious in both relay events, but the 21st-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks held on for a 151-149 victory Thursday at the Arkansas Natatorium.
With the dual meet still very much up for grabs heading into the final event of the afternoon, the Lady Tigers (0-2, 0-2 SEC) registered a 1-2 finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay behind a pair of fine efforts from the relay squads. However, the Razorbacks (2-1, 2-1 SEC) were able to tally the 151 points necessary and escape with the two-point victory in one of the closest swimming and diving contests in LSU history.
“Arkansas is a good team, and you have to give them credit,” LSU coach Adam Schmitt said. “They executed well. However, we let several events get away from us, and we’ve got to execute better and get our hands on the wall.”
Noland led the squad with a sensational performance as the senior co-captain won all three of her individual races ? the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events ? and played a key role on LSU’s victorious 400 freestyle relay team. McGee, a freshman standout from Shreveport, La., prevailed in both of her events as well, capturing the 100 and 200 backstroke titles.
LSU began the dual meet on a strong note, taking first- and third-place in the 200 medley relay. The Lady Tigers’ squad of McGee, Victoria Givens, Jane Trepp and Katie Gilmore finished in 1 minute, 43.66 seconds, a full second ahead of the Arkansas ?A’ team. Noland followed two events later with a victory in the 200 freestyle, touching the wall in 1:50.51, and McGee seized first-place in the next race, the 100 back, with a time of 56.19.
In the sixth event, senior Vanessa Duenas recorded a new personal best in the 200 butterfly, swimming a time of 2:01.96 to earn a runner-up finish. Her time is the fifth-fastest mark in school history.
The Lady Tigers then reeled off four straight victories. The sprint freestyle tandem of Noland, Katie Gilmore and Leigh Ann King claimed the top three times in the 50 free, respectively, while junior diver Rachel Ware secured the 1-meter springboard title with a score of 288.23.
Noland returned to the pool after the diving break and gained her third win on the afternoon in the 100 free (51.13), and McGee notched her second victory with a first-place finish in the 200 back (2:03.06).
The relay team of Noland, Gilmore, Samantha Goates and Trepp concluded the meet with a win in the 400 freestyle relay, posting a time of 3:26.13.
In diving, Ware enjoyed a solid meet, winning the 1-meter springboard and earning second in the 3-meter with a 300.45 score.
The LSU swimming and diving teams return to action next Friday as Southeastern conference rival, Alabama travels to Baton Rouge. The meet is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the LSU Natatorium. Admission is free.