UK Women’s Swimming & Diving Team Ranked Third Nationally Ahead of Postseason
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s swimming and diving team has earned its highest ranking in school history, checking in at No. 3 in the latest College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Division I poll released on Thursday morning.
The historic mark comes after No. 10 Kentucky dominated No. 19 Louisville in its regular-season finale on Jan. 23, defeating the in-state foe in a 200.5-99.5 final score. It marked UK’s largest triumph over UofL in the Lars Jorgensen era, as the team won 13 of 16 possible events. It also marked UK’s fourth straight win over a ranked UofL squad.
The women’s swimming and diving team has lost just one dual meet all season, earning wins against Vanderbilt, No. 7 Tennessee, RV Arkansas, No. 13 Missouri, No. 11 Alabama and No. 19 Louisville. Kentucky lost at No. 5 Tennessee in mid-January.
The Wildcats have a remarkable 19 events ranked in the nation’s top 25, not including two relay events ranked in the nation’s top 10.
| 3rd in the nation | Riley Gaines | 200 freestyle | 1:43.68 |
| 4th in the nation | Caitlin Brooks | 200 backstroke | 1:51.55 |
| 5th in the nation | Beth McNeese | 1,650 freestyle | 16:04.07 |
| 5th in the nation | Riley Gaines, Kaitlynn Wheeler, Izzy Gati, Sophie Sorenson | 800 freestyle relay | 7:05.78 |
| 6th in the nation | Caitlin Brooks | 50 backstroke | 24.31 |
| 6th in the nation | Caitlin Brooks, Bailey Bonnett, Izzy Gati, Riley Gaines | 200 medley relay | 1:36.75 |
| 7th in the nation | Caitlin Brooks | 100 backstroke | 51.56 |
| 8th in the nation | Izzy Gati | 200 butterfly | 1:54.25 |
| 8th in the nation | Beth McNeese | 1,000 freestyle | 9:45.79 |
| 9th in the nation | Sophie Sorenson | 200 backstroke | 1:52.63 |
| 9th in the nation | Riley Gaines | 100 freestyle | 48.42 |
| 10th in the nation | Beth McNeese | 500 freestyle | 4:40.69 |
| 11th in the nation | Gillian Davey | 200 breaststroke | 2:07.67 |
| 11th in the nation | Gillian Davey | 400 individual medley | 4:09.68 |
| 13th in the nation | Lauren Poole | 400 individual medley | 4:10.29 |
| 13th in the nation | Lauren Poole | 200 individual medley | 1:57.01 |
| 16th in the nation | Riley Gaines | 200 butterfly | 1:56.10 |
| 19th in the nation | Izzy Gati | 100 butterfly | 52.61 |
| 20th in the nation | Sophie Sorenson | 100 backstroke | 52.75 |
| 23rd in the nation | Izzy Gati | 200 individual medley | 1:57.68 |
| 25th in the nation | Kaylee Williams | 1,000 freestyle | 9:53.23 |
Complimenting those efforts, on the diving side, Kyndal Knight has reset her career best on all three disciplines this season – 1-meter springboard (320.78), 3-meter springboard (355.58) and platform (285.40). The junior, and reigning Southeastern Conference Champion on the 3-meter springboard, has won first place six out of nine times and first or second place eight out of nine times, this season.
Kentucky swimming and diving will not take the pool again until mid-February, when the women’s team and the diving squad compete in the 2021 Southeastern Conference Championship in Athens, Georgia, and Columbia, Missouri, respectively, February 17-20. Following that, the men’s team will compete in Columbia, Missouri, February 24-27.
For the latest on the Kentucky swimming and diving program, follow @UKSwimDive on Twitter and on Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.
